MARYVILLE, Mo. — Behind a career-high 22-point performance from freshman guard Bailey Birmingham, the Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball squad produced a 65-55 home victory over Rogers State University.
Northwest (13-10 overall, 6-7 MIAA) overcame an 11-point second-quarter deficit to earn its 11th home win of the season. Rogers State (9-14 overall, 6-8 MIAA) is 0-11 all-time vs. Northwest. The home team capitalized on 22 points off turnovers to secure the victory.
Northwest Missouri State opened the first quarter with a balanced attack, maintaining a back-and-forth pace against the Hillcats. Sadie Maas led early with a layup at 9:06, followed by a jumper at 6:32, showcasing strong involvement in the opening minutes. Kirsten Hauck briefly gave the Bearcats a lead with a 3-pointer at 4:01. However, Rogers State responded with critical scores, including a 3-pointer by Bailey Layman at 3:09, which contributed to their narrow lead. Boston Wand capped the quarter with a buzzer-beating jumper, closing the quarter at 16–14 in favor of Rogers State.
Northwest faced a challenging second quarter but managed to mount a comeback with a late surge. Bailey Birmingham’s 3-pointer at 7:26 tied the game at 17, but the Hillcats responded quickly to reclaim the lead. Despite trailing by as much as 11 points, the Bearcats closed the gap with Avery Yosten’s late contributions, including a key three-point play at 2:05 that brought the score to 29–23. The quarter ended with both teams scoring 13 points each, maintaining Rogers State’s lead at 29–27.
Northwest gained momentum midway through the third quarter when Brooklyn Stanley’s fast-break 3-pointer at 1:50 gave them a narrow lead. Despite consistent scoring from Ataya Casaus of Rogers State, including a layup and free throw sequence, the Bearcats kept the game tight with key steals and transitions. The quarter concluded with Northwest trailing slightly at 45–42.
Northwest surged ahead with a decisive run early in the fourth quarter. Birmingham’s 3-pointer at 8:30 marked the beginning of a strong offensive stretch, helping the team gain a 47–45 advantage. Andrea Lopreato followed with a key 3-pointer at 6:34, boosting the lead to 50–48.
The home team capitalized on turnover opportunities, with Birmingham and Maas contributing critical points in the paint. Northwest maintained control, extending the lead with strong free-throw shooting in the final minute. The game concluded with a 65–55 victory, as the Bearcats outscored Rogers State 23–10 in the fourth quarter.
Birmingham scored a career-high 22 points, converting 6 of 13 shots and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, while adding two steals. Maas contributed with 15 points and collected nine rebounds, making 5 of 9 baskets. Stanley recorded three steals and added seven points, alongside four rebounds.
Northwest will travel for its next matchup against Missouri Southern on Thursday, Feb. 12. The game is set to tip off at 5:30 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — After facing a 21-point first-half deficit, the Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team came back to take a second-half lead only to see the Rogers State Hillcats pull away late for a 77-69 result.
Despite a strong effort in the paint with 40 points, the Bearcats (11-13 overall, 4-9 MIAA) could not overcome Rogers State’s (15-8 overall, 9-5 MIAA) advantage at the free-throw line, where they converted 27 of 35 attempts. This victory marked Rogers State’s first win in Bearcat Arena, having lost its previous four encounters against Northwest.
Northwest Missouri State began the first half with a challenging start, finding themselves trailing 9–0 after a 3-pointer by Tim Jordan Jr. at 16:55. The team then sought to close the gap, with Presley Ibeh scoring a layup at 16:24 assisted by Royce Williams, breaking the initial scoring drought. Northwest trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half at 34-13. Despite struggling with shooting accuracy, converting 11 of 34 field goals, the Bearcats managed to find some rhythm with Ibeh hitting a 3-pointer at 5:32, assisted again by Williams, cutting into the deficit. The half concluded with Northwest Missouri State trailing by single digits at 38–29.
Northwest Missouri State narrowed the gap in the second half with a strong offensive showing, led by Robby Garcia’s consistent scoring in the paint. Aiden Gair contributed with a key 3-pointer early in the half, helping to keep the game within reach. The Bearcats took their first lead of the game at 58-57 with 5:40 to play on a conventional three-point play from Robby Garcia. Rogers State closed the game on a 20-11 run to claim the 77-69 victory.
Robby Garcia led the team with 18 points, converting 8 of 13 field goal attempts. Gair added 14 points and contributed two assists. Williams recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds and six assists, despite being disqualified with five fouls. This marked Williams’ third straight double-figure rebound game with a team-high 11 caroms. Jack Ratigan collected 10 rebounds and scored 10 points, tallying his third career double-double and providing a solid presence on both ends of the court.
The Bearcats will face Missouri Southern on Thursday, Feb. 12. The matchup is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.
