The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team fell to No. 11 Central Missouri, 77-56, on Saturday at the Multi in Warrensburg, Mo. The Bearcats finish the regular season with a 7-12 mark in MIAA play and were 10-16 overall. UCM claimed the outright conference title, going 17-2 with a 23-3 overall record, winning the last eight games of the season.

Ariel Easton scored a game-high 19 points, hitting four three pointers. Meridee Scott had 13 points for Northwest and Tember Schechinger added 11. The Bearcats forced 12 turnovers and had nine steals to go along with a pair of blocked shots.

Easton hit four first half three pointers to keep the Bearcats in it. She finished the opening 20 with 17 points. Northwest to within eight late, 39-31, but a buzzer beating three pointer gave UCM a 42-31 lead heading into the break.

Northwest has secured the No. 8 seed and will host No. 9 Northeastern State in the first round of the MIAA tournament on Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. Tickets will be available at the arena on the day of the game.

— Northwest Sports Information —