MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team pulled out a double-overtime home win over the Washburn Ichabods Saturday at Bearcat Arena.
Northwest snapped a three-game losing skid by winning its second overtime game of the season. The Bearcats are 10-6 overall and 3-3 in MIAA play. Washburn dropped to 10-5 overall and 3-3 in league action. Head coach Austin Meyer moved to 8-3 all-time in overtime games and has won five consecutive overtime results.
The contest began with a slow offensive start for both teams, but Northwest found a way to stay close despite early scoring challenges. Bailey Birmingham’s jumper at 7:22 put the home team on the board after an initial 4–0 run by the Ichabods. Avery Yosten contributed key free throws, narrowing the gap. As the quarter closed, Sadie Maas hit a jumper with 34 seconds left, pulling the Bearcats within two points. The quarter concluded with Northwest trailing Washburn 10–8.
Northwest maintained a narrow lead throughout the second quarter, highlighted by a key defensive stop and subsequent scoring from the free-throw line. At 6:09, Andrea Lopreato converted two free throws to extend the home team’s advantage to 12–10. The quarter saw strong defensive contributions from Maggie Collins, who recorded a block and a defensive rebound, helping Northwest hold Washburn to just 4 points in the quarter. The first half concluded with Northwest leading 18–15.
Northwest seized control in the third quarter with a critical sequence late in the quarter. Birmingham’s 3-pointer at 1:29, assisted by Lopreato, put the Bearcats ahead 31-28, marking a pivotal moment in the contest. Lopreato contributed significantly with both scoring and rebounding, helping the home team to a 20-14 advantage in the quarter. The lead extended to 33-28 by the end of the quarter, setting up a decisive final period.
In the fourth quarter, Northwest initially extended their lead with a 3-pointer from Kirsten Hauck at 9:00, assisted by Maas, and another 3-pointer from Hauck at 6:32, which pushed the score to 41-32. Despite this, the Ichabods’ persistent efforts tied the game at 43 with a jumper from Gabi Giovannetti at 2:16. The Bearcats momentarily regained the lead at 47-46 with a late jumper from Maas at 0:13. However, a free throw by Giovannetti brought the game to a 47-47 tie. Regulation ended with this score after a missed layup by Washburn in the final seconds.
In the first overtime period, the Bearcats managed to tie the game twice, initially at 4:22 with a jumper from Hauck, bringing the score to 49–49. Despite a brief lead by Washburn, Maas’s layup at 3:15 kept Northwest within reach at 53–51. Hauck scored again with 1:53 left, leveling the score at 53–53. Both teams failed to convert opportunities in the final seconds, resulting in a quarter tied at 6–6. The first overtime concluded with Washburn and Northwest tied at 53–53.
Northwest secured a pivotal lead late in the second overtime with Hauck’s three-pointer at the 47-second mark, pushing the score to 61-59. Birmingham extended the lead by converting two free throws with 20 seconds remaining, making it 63-59. Despite a late jumper from Aniah Wayne, Northwest responded with Lopreato’s two free throws to seal the win. The Bearcats finished victorious over the Ichabods, 65-61.
Lopreato scored 12 points and recorded nine rebounds, finishing with a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Hauck added 15 points and made three 3-pointers, while also collecting five rebounds. Maas contributed with six points and posted three blocks. Birmingham tallied 10 points and recorded two steals.
In their next game, the Bearcats will face Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The No. 1-ranked Washburn Ichabods pulled away in the second half to score a 76-53 victory over the Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball squad Saturday at Bearcat Arena.
The Ichabods raced out to a 21-2 advantage, but the Bearcats cut Washburn’s lead to 29-27 with 1:33 left in the opening half. Northwest trailed 42-40 in the second half, however Washburn out-scored the Bearcats the rest of the way, 34-13, to claim the 23-point victory.
Northwest is 9-8 overall and 2-4 in MIAA play. Washburn remained undefeated at 16-0 on the year. The Ichabods are 6-0 in league play.
The opening half saw Northwest Missouri State struggle to establish momentum as Washburn jumped to an early 10-0 lead. Aiden Gair sparked a comeback attempt with a series of 3-pointers, including one at 7:02, aided by an assist from Royce Williams, narrowing the gap to 27-18. Despite a late fast-break 3-pointer by Gair cutting the deficit to 29-27 with 1:33 remaining, Washburn maintained their edge, closing the half with a 36-27 lead.
In the second half, Northwest Mo. St. made a notable push with a series of 3-pointers, including two by Williams, narrowing the gap to 41–38 at 16:19. Despite this effort, Washburn capitalized on turnovers and free throws to extend their lead. Northwest Mo. St. struggled to maintain momentum, trailing at the end of the half with a score of 76–53.
Gair scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and added four assists. Williams contributed 11 points while recording six assists and three steals. Larenz Walters added eight points and collected two steals. Robert Garcia posted 12 points, making five of his eight field goal attempts.
In their next game, Northwest Missouri State will play host to Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.
