The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team fell to Emporia State 79-66 in a battle that was much closer than the score suggests. The Hornets made six free throws in a row to close out the game. Emporia showed why they were the #16 team in the country, while the Bearcats kept the score close the whole game, the Bearcats only lead was 2-0. The Hornets shot very well from the field, over 50% on the night, including 39% from behind the three-point line. Northwest shot 44% from the field and 36% from behind the arc. After the first half the Bearcats trailed 37-32. Northwest was able to hang around Emporia State and withstand hot shooting from behind the arc by the Hornets in the first half, going 6-14. The Bearcats were incredibly even in scoring in first quarter with four players scoring five points and Kylie Coleman and Paityn Rau scoring six.The Bearcats and Hornets battled in the third quarter to a score of 22-19. The Hornets closed the quarter on a three-point buzzer beater to take an eight point lead going into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Bearcats pulled within three, to make the score 62-59 with 6:39 left in the game, following a Jaelyn Haggardthree-pointer. From that point on the Hornets won the quarter 17-7. Turnovers were the downfall of Northwest in the final quarter, turning the ball over six times in the final frame. The Hornets capitalized off these turnovers all game, turning Bearcat turnovers into 19 points of their own. The Bearcats were led in scoring by Haggard with 19 points, followed by Erika Schlosser with 11. Schlosser added seven assists to tie Mallory McConkey for the team lead. Coleman led the team with six rebounds on the night. Tre'zure Jobe showed why she is one of the top scorers in the MIAA, scoring 26 points on 14 shots. The Hornets had three other scorers in double figures on the night. Mollie Mounsey and Morgan Laudan had 15, and Kali Martin had 10. Mounsey added six rebounds and five steals, while Jobe added seven assists and four rebounds. The Bearcats will be back in action on this Saturday against the Washburn Ichabods at 1:30 p.m. in Topeka, Kan. --- Northwest Athletics ---

Northwest women come up short at No. 16 Emporia 79-66