KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In its first MIAA Tournament matchup since 2013, the Missouri Southern Lions eliminated the Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team with a 59-50 victory in Wednesday's opening round. 

Molly Hartnett led the Bearcats with 16 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Kelsey Fields capped off her senior season with a double-double in each of Northwest's last three games, posting 10 points and 11 rebounds against MSSU. Lindsey Kelderman knocked down a trio of threes and grabbed six rebounds, including three on the offensive end.

Northwest concludes its 2024-25 season with an overall record of 15-15, as MSSU moves to 19-13. 

Sadie Maas opened the game with a reverse layup on Northwest's first possession, but MSSU responded with six unanswered points. Hartnett answered with a step-back three to cut the deficit to 6-5 with 6:37 left in the first quarter. Kelderman later drained a pair of threes, giving the Bearcats a 15-14 lead after the opening period.

Northwest maintained its advantage through most of the second quarter until MSSU closed the half on a 6-0 run. The Lions forced a Bearcat turnover and capitalized on the next possession to take a 28-27 lead. By halftime, MSSU held a 30-27 edge. Hartnett led Northwest with 12 first-half points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Fields secured seven rebounds and three points. Maas recorded three first-half blocks, and MSSU's Ryan Franklin matched Hartnett's 12 points to pace the Lions.

MSSU extended its lead in the third quarter, opening with a 14-0 run to build an 11-point advantage by the 7:10 mark. Northwest struggled offensively, going scoreless for 9:34 of game time before finally converting a basket with 2:17 left in the third. Brooklyn Stanley added a late bucket, but the Lions' 20-4 run put them in control with a 44-31 lead entering the fourth. Northwest's leading scorer, Kesten, remained scoreless through three quarters, attempting just two three-pointers.

In the fourth, Stanley grabbed two offensive rebounds on a possession that led to a Maas basket at the 6:09 mark. Northwest then forced a turnover, leading to a transition three from Kesten to cut the deficit to nine with 5:41 left. However, the Lions answered with key baskets to keep the Bearcats at bay, securing a 59-50 victory and advancing to the MIAA quarterfinals.

Northwest shot 36.4% from the field and just 25% from beyond the arc, while MSSU capitalized on its second- and third-quarter surge, finishing at 46.4% from the floor.

MSSU will face top-seeded Pittsburg State in the quarterfinals Thursday at 6 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium
 
NOTES
Maas recorded four blocked shots, bringing her season total to 48—the fourth-most in a single season in Northwest history… Kesten knocked in a triple late in the fourth to bring her season total to 73 – also, the fourth-most in the Bearcat record books…Hartnett ended her Bearcat career with 1,794 points…Fields recorded a double-double in three straight games that brought her career total to 17…Fields pulled down 794 career rebounds to place her second in Bearcat history…Northwest has had four-consecutive .500-plus seasons…The Bearcats finished their season with the toughest schedule in the country.