The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team picked up its second straight victory Monday evening in Maryville, dispatching of the Saint Mary Spires, 67-35.

Northwest improved its record to 2-4 with the win.

Tember Schechinger recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds while dishing out three assists and making three steals. The senior hit 6-of-14 shots from the field.

Senior Taylor Shull made four steals in the contest. The guard added seven points and three assists.  Tanya Meyer dropped in 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Jasmin Howe hit two second half treys en route to 10 points while distributing two assists and corralling four rebounds.

Northwest forced 25 Saint Mary turnovers while committing just 13.  The Bearcats hit 47.5 percent of their shots in the game (29-for-61), but hit nearly 60 percent in the second half (16-of-27).  Northwest dominated in the paint, outscoring the Spires, 38-18.

After falling behind by three in the first minute, 5-2, the Bearcats used an 11-0 run to set the tone for the rest of the game. Taylor Shull hit a three-pointer on a pass from Tember Schechinger to tie the score at five. Northwest forced two turnovers before Jasmin Howe handed the Bearcats their first lead on a driving layup three minutes into the game. Northwest would not trail the rest of the night. Howe made another steal, leading to Schechinger putting in a layup off her own miss. The intensity remained high on the defensive end when Shull and Schechinger made two steals each on four of the next five Spire possessions. Schechinger laid in another offensive rebound in the midst of that run to put the Bearcats in front, 11-5. The Bearcat run ended when Macy Williams found Shelby Mustain under the basket for an easy layup.

Leading 42-28 after three quarters of play, the Bearcats scored the first 14 points of the final period to seal the victory. Mustain made a block on the defensive end and dropped in a layup after a perfect pass from Jasmin Howe. After a shot clock violation, Jasmin Howe poured in a three pointer from the left side. Mustain hit a short range jumper on a pass from Shull to extend the lead to 49-28. Schechinger made layups on consecutive possessions before finding Mallory McAndrews at the top of the key, who knocked down a three-pointer to put the Bearcats in front by 28.

The Bearcats will open MIAA play when they travel to Bolivar, Mo. on Thursday, Dec. 3 to face off with Southwest Baptist. First tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —