Bearcats pluck first MIAA road win at Central Oklahoma

Northwest Missouri State's women's basketball team broke through on the road in league play Saturday with a 71-57 win over Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Fieldhouse.

Sophomore post players Maggie Marnin and Annie Mathews each recorded double-doubles, leading the Bearcats back from a five-point deficit early in the second half.

The Bearcats regained the lead with 15:17 left on a layup by Meridee Scott and never let go. Six free throws by Monique Stevens and another from Ashleigh Nelson in the final 1:09 put the game away.

Northwest improved to 10-5 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA and snapped a three-game road losing streak in league play. Central Oklahoma fell to 8-8 overall and 1-7 in the MIAA. This was the Bronchos seventh consecutive league defeat, moving them into sole possession of last place.

Central Oklahoma shot a miserable 18-67 (.269) from the field and 5-23 (.217) from three with 19 turnovers. The Bearcats connected on 23-53 (.434) shots and shot over 50 percent from inside the arc, allowing them to overcome 24 turnovers.

They also out-rebounded Central Oklahoma 44-34.

Both teams were nearly automatic at the foul line, combining to hit 29-31 attempts. Northwest went 15-16 overall for the second straight game.

The Bearcats had four players in double-figures in consecutive games as well.

Marnin scored a game-high 18 points on 9-15 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. Mathews was 4-6 with 10 points and 10 rebounds, notching her second straight double-double. Scott finished with 11 points.

Stevens had 10 points along with nine assists and six rebounds.

Ashleigh Nelson and Ashley Thayer each had seven points.

Central Oklahoma's only double-figure scorers were Hayley Bryan with 11 points and Jill Bryan with 10.

Leading scorer Alyssa Fuxa had just six on 3-9 shooting.

A game after giving up the first 10 points, Northwest scored the first 10 and held Central Oklahoma scoreless for 4:55.

The Bearcats took a 14-3 lead with 13:44 left before UCO ran off 14 straight points and went in front for the first time on a three by Bryan.

Northwest stopped the bleeding right after and got a three from Nelson to go up 27-21 with two minutes left in the half. UCO scored the final five points of the half to make it a one-point game.

A three by Jordan Word gave the Bronchos a 34-29 lead with 17:39 to play.

Northwest responded with an 11-2 run to vault back in front by four.

There were three more occasions when UCO had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, but none materialized.

With the lead at one, Marnin scored consecutive baskets to make it 52-47 with 6:19 left. From then on, Northwest's lead stayed at two possessions or above.