By David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. – A 14-point deficit late in the third quarter was too much for the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team to overcome. But the Bearcats made it interesting.

With under 6 minutes left, Northwest pulled within three points but could get no closer. Nebraska-Kearney hung on to win 69-64 Thursday evening at Bearcat Arena.

“How the first half went was a direct reflection of yesterday’s practice,” Northwest coach Buck Scheel said. “I was very disappointed.

“I knew tonight’s game was going to be a dogfight. They are a much better team than they look on paper. I preached that into their heads after Saturday’s game. We didn’t come out and compete.”

Despite the loss, there were some encouraging signs from several Bearcats who showed they can be an offensive force when some of the key players are struggling

The play of sophomore Maria Dentlinger and senior Carlie Wilhelmi ignited Northwest’s offense in the third quarter. The Bearcats scored 20 points.

“At the start of the game, I wasn’t looking for my shot,” said Dentlinger, who finished with a team-high 15 points. “In the third quarter, my shot started going in.”

Northwest, though, was unable to counter Dentlinger and Wilhelmi’s pinpoint shooting with solid defense. The Lopers scored 24 points in the third quarter in took a 55-45 lead into the final quarter.

“It was great for them to get in the game and step up,” Scheel said. “We had some people who were struggling. Maria has played really well this past couple of games, and Carlie gave us great minutes off the bench. They really kept us in the game. It was good to see them step up and get it done.”

The deficit was worse earlier in the third quarter. Northwest fell behind 47-33 with 4 minutes left in the third and 52-38 a couple of minutes later. Thanks to a couple of baskets by Wilhelmi and a three-pointer by Dentlinger to concluded the third quarter, Northwest trailed by 10.

“Personally, I wanted to provide energy,” said Wilhelmi, who finished with nine points on 4 for 4 shooting from the field. “When everybody is on the same page as far as energy, we do really well. The bench needs to be just as energetic as everybody else on the floor.”

The Bearcats rode that momentum into the fourth quarter and scored the first five points to close to 55-50. A three-point play by Arbrie Benson with 9:07 left made it a five-point game.

All the momentum appeared to be on Northwest’s side when senior Jasmin Howe made two free throws with 5:38 left to make it 59-56. Northwest even got the ball back and attempted a three-pointer that would have tied the game. It didn’t fall through.

Northwest had another opportunity, but a turnover prevented the Bearcats from getting off a shot.

“That was a big possession for us,” Scheel said. “We didn’t do a good anticipating how they were going to guard. Our ball handler just has to have better awareness and understanding how they were going to guard us.”

The Lopers scored the next four points and held a 63-56 lead with 2:05 left.

In the first half, the shots weren’t falling for Northwest, but the Bearcats stayed close.

A bit of an unlucky break was the only reason why Northwest went into halftime trailing 31-25. With less than 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter, it appeared Howe’s long three-pointer beat the shot clock. It would have tied the game at 28-28.

Unfortunately, Howe’s three-pointer was waved off. The officials ruled it came just after the shot clock expired. Nebraska-Kearney played for the last shot and was successful when Michaela Barry buried a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Still, it was a successful first half for the Bearcats because they battled back from a 21-12 deficit midway through the second quarter. Just when it appeared Northwest was about to face a double-digit deficit, it ran off 10 straight points for a 22-21 lead.

“I thought once we woke up, we competed,” Scheel said. “When we are playing from behind and dig ourselves a hole, it is a lot of work.”

After Nebraska-Kearney regained the lead, Northwest took it right back on a three-pointer by Mallory McAndrews that gave the Bearcats a 25-23 lead.

The Lopers closed out the second quarter with two three-pointers from Barry and a basket by Imani Kyser.

— Northwest Athletics —