JOPLIN, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team moved its winning streak to four in a row with a 65-60 victory over the Missouri Southern Lions Thursday at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium.
Sophomore Sadie Maas notched career highs in rebounds (18) and points (17). Junior Andrea Lopreato knocked in 19 points off the bench, giving Northwest a 32-18 advantage in bench points. Northwest enjoyed a 47-31 edge in the rebounding battle.
Northwest is 14-10 overall and 7-7 in MIAA play. MSSU drops to 17-6 overall and 11-3 in league action. MSSU lost its first home game of the season after entering with a 7-0 home record.
Northwest initiated play with a balanced offensive approach, leading with an efficient 4-for-15 shooting performance in the first quarter. Brooklyn Stanley sparked the momentum with a 3-pointer at 7:12, assisted by Bailey Birmingham, leveling the score at 3-3. Birmingham further contributed with a 3-pointer at 3:58, edging the Bearcats ahead. Sadie Maas added a jumper with 1:55 remaining, extending the lead to 8-7. Maas, setting a career-high with 17 points, played a crucial role in maintaining the Bearcats’ lead. Boston Wand then solidified the lead with a late jumper, closing the quarter at 10-7 in favor of the Bearcats.
The Bearcats established control in the second quarter with a strong presence in the paint, contributing 12 points inside. Andrea Lopreato led the scoring effort with a pivotal layup at 2:33, extending the lead to 19-13. Wand added a fastbreak layup in the final minutes, but the Lions responded with a quick 3-pointer, closing the gap. The quarter concluded with the Bearcats holding a slight edge, 24-22.
Northwest opened the third quarter with a strong presence in the paint, highlighted by Maas scoring a layup with assistance from Wand at 9:37. Despite facing a resilient Missouri Southern State, Maas continued to make significant contributions, including a defensive rebound and a block midway through the quarter. Her performance was notable for achieving a career-high of 18 rebounds, which tied for the ninth-most in a single game in Bearcat women’s basketball history. The Bearcats maintained a narrow lead after a series of successful plays, including another layup by Maas, bringing the score to 38-33. The quarter concluded with both teams scoring 14 points each, keeping the Bearcats narrowly ahead.
The Bearcats extended their lead early in the fourth quarter with Maggie Collins sinking two free throws at 9:58, setting a competitive tone. A pivotal sequence occurred when Kenzie Melcher hit a 3-pointer at 8:09, assisted by Kirsten Hauck, pushing the score to 43–38.
Despite the Lions’ attempts to narrow the gap, the Bearcats maintained control. Lopreato was instrumental in the final minutes, contributing key free throws that solidified the lead. The game concluded with the Bearcats securing a 65–60 victory. This win marked the Bearcats’ fourth consecutive victory, as they have not lost a game since Jan. 23.
Lopreato led the scoring with 19 points, converting 11 of 13 free throws and adding five rebounds. Maas posted a double-double with 17 points and 18 rebounds, while also blocking three shots. Stanley contributed nine points and recorded one steal.
The Bearcats will face Pittsburg State on Saturday, Feb. 14. The matchup is set for 1:30 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
JOPLIN, Mo. —The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team shot 58.2% from the floor and picked up its third road win of the season with an 81-74 victory over the Missouri Southern Lions at the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium.
The Bearcats buried 32-of-55 field goals, which included 64.0% (16-of-25) in the second half to gain their sixth straight win in Joplin. Royce Williams and Aiden Gair led the way with a pair of 20-plus point nights. Williams put up 24 points and five assists, while Gair added 21 points and two steals.
Northwest has won 14 of the last 15 matchups with Missouri Southern. Northwest is 12-13 overall and 5-9 in MIAA play. MSSU is 13-9 overall and 7-6 in league action.
The matchup began with the Lions taking an early lead, but the Bearcats quickly responded. Aiden Gair ignited the visiting team with a 3-pointer at 18:14, assisted by Jack Ratigan, setting the tone for a strong opening half. The Bearcats maintained momentum with Gair’s continued scoring, including a fastbreak layup at 0:44, contributing to their offensive edge. By the end of the first half, the Bearcats led 39-33, capitalizing on seven successful 3-pointers and a solid team effort on the boards, securing a narrow advantage going into the next half.
Presley Ibeh ignited the Bearcats in the second half with a key three-pointer and a subsequent dunk, extending their lead early on. Royce Williams contributed significantly with consistent scoring, including a late three-pointer at the 38-second mark to solidify the lead. The Bearcats concluded the half with a slight edge, scoring 42 points to the Lions’ 41, leading to a final score of 81–74. This win marks Northwest’s sixth straight victory in Joplin, where they have not lost since Jan. 4, 2018.
Williams led the Bearcats with 24 points, adding five assists and six rebounds. Gair contributed significantly, scoring 21 points and making three 3-pointers while collecting two steals. Ibeh was efficient from the field, converting 5 of 7 shots for 13 points. Robert Garcia added nine points and secured seven rebounds, complementing his three assists.
The Bearcats will face Pittsburg State on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Pittsburg, Kan. The game is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m.
