TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team used a stifling defensive effort to surge past Northeastern State, 53-45, at the NSU Events Center on Thursday night.

With the win, Northwest evens its record at 13-13 overall and improves to 6-10 in MIAA play. Northeastern State falls to 10-15 (6-10 MIAA).

Northwest's defense was dominant in the second quarter, holding NSU scoreless from the field for over 15 minutes of game time while outscoring the RiverHawks 18-4 in the period. The Bearcats limited NSU to just 28% shooting (15-of-50) for the game.

Caely Kesten led the way with 13 points, eight rebounds (tied career high), and three assists. Sadie Maas added 11 points, five rebounds, and an assist, while Molly Hartnett contributed eight points, six assists, and three boards. 

Northwest jumped out to an early 7-4 lead after Maas tallied her fourth point at the 6:39 mark of the first quarter. NSU responded with a 9-2 run prior to the opening media timeout, briefly taking a 9-7 lead. Hartnett then found Brooklyn Stanley for a three at the buzzer, giving the Bearcats a 14-11 advantage after the first 10 minutes. Northwest's defense set the tone early, forcing four NSU turnovers while committing just one.

The Bearcats carried that momentum into the second quarter as Kesten and Hartnett drained back-to-back three-pointers, extending the lead to 20-11. NSU was whistled for its first foul of the game with 5:40 left in the half, as Hartnett would capitalize with another triple. At the time, Northwest's defense held the RiverHawks scoreless from the field for 12:09 of game time, allowing just four second-quarter points—all from the free-throw line.

Kesten extended Northwest's lead to 16 after drilling her third three-pointer of the half, finishing 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Bearcats forced eight first-half turnovers while limiting NSU to just 18% shooting (4-of-22). Closing the half on an 18-4 run, Northwest entered the locker room with a commanding 29-15 lead, shooting 34.4% (11-of-32) with seven made threes.

NSU's field-goal drought stretched to over 15 minutes before the RiverHawks finally scored with 7:30 left in the third. Northwest maintained a 34-22 lead at the media timeout, but an 8-1 NSU run trimmed it to seven with 2:41 remaining in the quarter. Lindsey Kelderman answered with back-to-back clutch three-pointers, pushing the Bearcats' lead back to 13. Northwest entered the fourth quarter up 42-28.

NSU put together a 7-0 run in the fourth, cutting the deficit to eight with 1:47 to play. Emree Zars delivered the dagger, finishing a layup with 38 seconds left to give Northwest a 10-point cushion. The Bearcats secured their sixth straight win over the RiverHawks, closing out a 53-45 road victory at the NSU Events Center.

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Northwest will travel to Fort Smith, Ark. on Saturday, Feb. 22 for its inaugural meeting against the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.