The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team fell to the University of Saint Mary, 81-74, on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.
– The game was played as part of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Classic.
– The Bearcats fall to 1-4 on the season with the loss while the Spires move to 4-4.
– Tanya Meyer scored a season-high 29 points with 11 rebounds. She had a pair of steals and grabbed four offensive rebounds.

Key Northwest Statistics
– The game was tied at 25-25 at halftime.
– Northwest hit 10 three pointers and went 14-of-18 from the charity stripe.
– The Bearcats out rebounded USM, 39-36. Northwest had 14 offensive rebounds and converted those into 18 second chance points.
– The Spires had 15 turnovers with the Bearcats tallying seven steals. Northwest scored 21 points off turnovers.
– Jaelyn Haggard hit four three pointers and finished with 19 points. She had a pair of assists and two rebounds.
– Mallory McConkey blocked three shots defensively. She finished with eight points, five assists and three rebounds.
– Mia Stillman and Mele Tupouata each grabbed five rebounds in the contest.
– Kaylani Maiava had four rebound, two blocked shots and a steal.

Key Northwest Sequence
– The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, going on a 12-2 run. With the game tied, 6-6, McConkey hit a layup and Meyer nailed a jumper to make it 10-6. McConkey would hit another jumper and Meyer added a three pointer with 5:30 left to play in the opening quarter to make it 13-6 Bearcats. After a Spire layup, Mallory McAndrews hit a three off an assist from McConkey to make it 16-8 Northwest.

Up Next
– Northwest will begin MIAA play on Thursday, Nov. 30, as the Bearcats host Northeastern State at 5:30 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —