By MATT PIKE
The Northwest Missouri State women haven't had the start to the new year they had hoped for after another loss yesterday evening.
The Bearcat women saw their losing streak move to three games as the University of Central Missouri Jennies closed the game on a 12-0 run to score a 66-61 victory over the Northwest in Bearcat Arena.
Even in a loss it was a bounce back from a poor performance Saturday against Nebraska Kearney, where the Bearcats shot 36% and were outrebounded 41-32.
Sophomore forward Sadie Maas says it's important to not let things snowball
"This isn't the same team as last year, and we're so much more capable when it comes to just bouncing back when we get hit," Maas tells reporters following the game. "So I think just sticking together as a team and having everybody on the same page and just continuing to do that is going to be really key."
Head Coach Austin Meyer says with more tough MIAA opponents ahead, the team needs to take lessons from this game knowing another good team is around the corner
[260108Meyer1] :08 "won the game"
"There were some things we did, gave them some open threes that we didn't need to, and there's plenty of little things that despite everything else we still could have won the game," Meyer says.
The Bearcats have a tough slate ahead as they face Washburn on Saturday, before hosting and facing for the second time in two weeks Nebraska Kearney and #6 Fort Hays State.
The Jennies snapped Northwest's nine-game home-court winning streak and moved to 10-4 overall, 4-1 in MIAA play, while Northwest now sits at 9-6 overall, 2-3 in the MIAA.
The Bearcats began the game focused on dominating the paint, scoring 16 points inside while securing a strong rebounding presence with 13 total boards. Andrea Lopreato was active early, contributing a tip-in and a key layup at 5:59, which briefly tied the game at six. However, UCM responded with effective perimeter shooting, highlighted by Neely Schaaf's three point shot late in the quarter, extending their lead. Brooklyn Stanley's hit a layup with 47 seconds left, but the Northwest trailed 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats seized control in the second quarter, outscoring the Jennies 21-14. Bailey Birmingham and Lopreato were big in the rally with Birmingham assisting on key plays, including a three-pointer at 8:31 that tied the score. As the quarter rolled on, Northwest built momentum, Ella Moody's late three-pointer again leveling the game, and the Bearcats maintained an edge, closing the half leading 37-35 after a layup by Moody with 37 seconds left in the half.
A strong presence in the paint opened the third quarter for Northwest, a Lopreato layup extending their lead. Despite a brief push from UCM, the Bearcats responded with a defensive stand and a quick layup by Boston Wand to keep their momentum. Birmingham's fast-break three pointer extended the lead further, but the Jennies managed to tie the game at 52 with a late three pointer by Neely Schaaf near the end of the quarter, ending the frame tied 52-52, setting up a decisive final quarter.
The Bearcats began the fourth quarter with a strong start, Birmingham hitting a three pointer to take the lead back. Kirsten Hauck later added a layup to push the lead further and Sadie Maas contributed significantly as well with a layup at 6:25 following a defensive rebound, and a jumper at 5:32, extending Northwest Mo. St.'s lead to 61-54. UCM however, would not go away.
The Jennies mounted a comeback, tying the game at 61-61 with free throws by Reese Schaaf late in the quarter, then in the final moments, UCM edged ahead with a layup by Schaaf and extended their lead with free throws in the last seconds. Despite several offensive rebounds, the Bearcats were unable to reclaim the lead.
Moody scored 13 points to lead the team. Lopreato added 12 points to round out the double digit scoring, while Birmingham converted three beyond the arc for nine points.
The Northwest men were also narrowly beaten by Central Missouri in Bearcat Arena falling 76-72.
The Mules improved to 13-4 overall, 4-1 in MIAA play, while the Bearcats moved to 9-7 overall, 2-3 in the MIAA. The Bearcat bench did enjoy a good day against UCM with a 22-2 scoring advantage, but despite a balanced offense, with four players scoring in double digits, Northwest could not hold off the Mules, who outscored them by 14 points in the second half.
Royce Williams securing an early lead for Northwest not even a minute into the game with a three pointer, and the Bearcats maintained a narrow edge with some effective scoring in the paint, particularly with Larenz Walters contributing a layup and a free throw to help extend the advantage to four points. UCM kept the contest tight though, matching Northwest in both field goals and three-pointers, causing multiple lead changes and ties through the half, but a layup from Mikhail Abdul-Hamid with 27 seconds remaining, gave the Bearcats a 35–31 lead at halftime.
Northwest initially extended its lead with an early three-pointer from Williams out of the halftime break pushing the score to 40–33, but the Mules responded with a series of successful offensive plays to level the game at 43. The Bearcats did briefly recapture the lead with a three-pointer from Presley Ibeh, but UCM quickly tied the game again. As the half progressed, the Bearcats struggled to maintain a lead.
A significant moment came on a Trey Moala layup at 8:54 after a critical steal by Aiden Gair, giving Northwest a narrow 58–57 advantage. However, UCM capitalized on a late turnover and foul, securing the win with a final free throw at 10 seconds.
Williams led the team with 18 points. Moala contributed 11 points and Abdul-Hamid chipped in 12 points. Walters scored 10 points to round out the double digit scoring.
Northwest will remain home on Saturday, playing host to Washburn. The women will tipoff at 1:30. The men will follow against the #1 Ichabods at 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.