The Mark Kellogg era got off to a winning start Friday night as the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team hustled its way to a 65-50 win over Quincy in non-conference action.

Northwest (1-0) used a 10-0 run to recover from a 13 point deficit just after the eight minute mark of the first half. Back-to-back Meridee Scott layups gave the Bearcats their first lead with 7:40 left in the first half as the Hawks continued to hang around. Scott would go on to lead all scorers and finish with a career-high 21 points.

A NCAA tournament team a year ago, Quincy (0-1) proved to be battle tested in the first half as the lead changed seven times.

Just before the final media timeout of the first half, Maggie Marnin completed a three-point play  on a lay-in to give Northwest a 25-23 lead. Both teams would trade baskets down the stretch as a Tiara Thomas layup with 18 seconds pulled the Bearcat lead to only one, 27-26, at halftime.

Quincy continued to hang around using a definite size advantage, as they outrebounded Northwest 48-29. However a quicker Bearcat team outscored the Hawks 34-16 inside the paint and forced 20 turnovers to seal the 15-point win.

The Bearcats also shot 42 percent from behind the three-point line as freshman Tember Schechinger added 14 points and eight rebounds in her collegiate debut.

Ashleigh Nelson added 10 points to give the Bearcats three players in double figures.

Thomas and Lucy Cramsey led the Hawks with eight points each.

Northwest returns to action Tuesday as they host Tabor in non-conference action. Tipoff from Bearcat Arena is slated for 6 p.m.