The Northwest Missouri men’s basketball team opened the 2013-14 regular season with a 91-78 victory over Upper Iowa on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation and Activities Center. The game was part of the Southwest Minnesota State University Classic.

Conner Crooker led the way for the Bearcats with 24 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 mark from the free throw line. Dillon Starzl was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. DeShaun Cooper, in his first action since the 2011-12 season, scored 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Bryston Williams was the fourth Bearcat in double-figures, adding 11 with a pair of threes.

As a team, Northwest shot 58.8 percent (30-51) from the field and hit 23 of its 27 free throws (85.2%). Defensively, the Bearcats force 12 turnovers and held a 33-28 rebound advantage. The game was tied twice during the first half but Northwest never trailed in the game.

The Bearcats will play against tournament host Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. Live video and live audio is available at NorthwestBearcats.com.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team dropped their season opener to Quincy University Saturday, 68-47.

The Hawks jumped out in front on a 10-0 run to open up the game and the Bearcats were unable to recover.

Northwest shot 23 percent from the floor in the first half while going 1 for 7 from behind the three point line and entered halftime trailing 37-14.

The Bearcats came out in the second half and outscored the Hawks 33-31, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 68-47.

Ariel Easton led all Bearcats in scoring with 16 points and added four rebounds and two steals. Annie Mathews pulled down nine rebounds in the loss while putting in four points of her own and added one assist.

Northwest opens the season 0-1 and will host Truman State Saturday for the team’s home opener in Bearcat Arena for the Winstead-Reeves Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Three seniors from the Northwest Missouri State women’s soccer team were honored Friday as they were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA in a release from the league office.

Defender Jordan Albright earns her third consecutive selection to the Honorable Mention All-MIAA team. Albright has been one of the top defenders for the Bearcats over the last four years. The senior defender added two goals this season including a game winner against Missouri Western.

Midfielder Anna Calgaard has been named Honorable Mention three out of her four years at Northwest. Calgaard wrote her name in the record books as she finished her career with the most assists recorded at Northwest with 13. Calgaard also led her team in total points this season with 13.

Goalkeeper Kelsey Adams is tabbed to her third straight Honorable Mention selection. On Oct. 1, Adams posted nine saves in a shutout victory over Graceland University making her the all-time saves leader at Northwest. Adams broke the previous record of 339 and finished her career with 390 saves.

The Bearcats ended the season 5-11-2, 3-8-1. Northwest will graduate five seniors and welcome back 19 returners for the 2014 season.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior quarterback Trevor Adams and junior linebacker Eric Reimer were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 first team on Thursday afternoon. In all, eight MIAA players earned the honor with Northwest and Pittsburg State leading with way with two selections each. Adams and Remier are now eligible to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors which will be voted on later this month.

This marks the second time Adams has earned first team all-district honors.Last season as a junior, he was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection. Adams will graduate this December with a degree in biology and psychology. The Odessa, Texas, native was named a Scholar-Athlete last month by the National Football Foundation (NFF). He currently is the top rated passer in Division II in pass efficiency rating (195.1) and completion percentage (75.7%). He wasnamed the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week for his performance against then-No. 8 Washburn on Nov. 2.

Reimer, a native of Menomonee Falls, Wisc., is the Bearcats’ leading tackler with 68. He has also recorded a team-best 11 tackles for loss and has 4.5 sacks on the year. Against then-No. 7 Pittsburg State, Reimer recorded 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble, assisted in recording a safety, had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. The Bearcats lead the MIAA in scoring defense (14.9), passing defense (181.6) and total defense (287.6). Reimer is a business management major at Northwest.

The Bearcats will head to No. 10 Emporia State for a 1 p.m. contest at Welch Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team fell to the University of Central Missouri, 3-1, on Tuesdayevening at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The loss drops the Bearcats to 11-16 overall and 5-9 in MIAA play. Central Missouri improves to 27-1 on the season and 13-1 in conference action.

UCM was able to pull away in the first set, 25-19, after Northwest had tied the set early at 10-10. The Bearcats challenged the Jennies throughout the second set, drawing the set to a 20-20 tie late. But UCM was again able to find enough points to go into the break up, 2-0, with a 25-22 victory.

Northwest’s best set came in the third, winning 25-20. The Bearcats scored five of the last seven points of the set, finished off by a pair of kills from sophomore Shelby Duren. The Bearcats were unable to withstand a UCM rally early in the fourth set and dropped the point, 25-15.

Duren led the way with 12 kills and 10 digs for the Bearcats. Junior BrookeBartosh had 11 kills and two blocks. Junior Kirsten Hudgens had 23 assists and senior Bridget Hanafin added 18 assists and 12 digs. Junior Bailey Vance had 23 digs.

Northwest returns to action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest against Nebraska-Kearney at Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior quarterback Trevor Adams was named the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week in an announcement made by the league office on Monday.Adams helped lead the No. 2 ranked Bearcats to a 52-21 victory over then-No. 8 Washburn on Saturday.

Against the Ichabods, Adams put together one of his most complete performances of the season. The Odessa, Texas, native completed 23-of-27 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with nine different receivers on the day as Northwest moved to 9-0 on the season. His 85.1 completion percentage was the fourth highest single-game mark in Bearcat history. It was also the fourth time Adams has thrown for over 300 yards in his career.

Adams becomes the third Northwest player to earn weekly honors from the MIAA this season. Brandon Dixon (Week 1) and Matt Longacre (Week 4) were both earned defensive awards this season.

Northwest will play at undefeated Emporia State on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at Welch Stadium.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Senior Dillon Starzl and sophomore Conner Crooker led the Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team to a 95-57 victory over Graceland in an exhibition game on Sunday at Bearcat Arena.

Starzl had a game-high 21 points to start out his fourth season for the Bearcats, only four points behind his career high of 25 points. Crooker started and had 18points. He scored a career high of 24 points last season against Northeastern State.

Grant Cozad tacked on twelve points for the Bearcats. DeShaun Cooper, who sat outwith a medial redshirt last season, returned Sunday and added seven points for Northwest.

Four new faces, Justin Pitts, Zach Schneider, Brett Dougherty and Jordan Ashton hit the hardwood to add a cumulative 23 points, Schneider with nine of them.

The men’s basketball team opens the 2013-14 regular season against Upper Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Marshall, Minn. Northwest will play host Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday, Nov. 10.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team dropped an exhibition game against division I opponent Illinois State Sunday 55-50.

With four lead changes in the first half, the Bearcats showed up ready to play for their final tune up before the regular season begins Nov. 9.

Meridee Scott led Northwest in scoring for the first half with seven points while Ariel Easton pulled down five rebounds and added four points of her own.

The Bearcats held a slim 9-8 lead in the middle of the first half before the Redbird’s went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead. ISU led at the half 30-23.

The second half was a hard fought battle that came down to the final few minutes of the contest.

Shelby Mustain had a huge block on defense which turned into a layup by Ashleigh Nelson to tie the game at 46-46 with 4:29 left to play in regulation.

The Redbird’s outscored the Bearcats in the final three minutes of the game 10-4 as Northwest fell 55-50.

Nelson led all players in scoring with 17 points as she added two assists and four rebounds to her totals.

Mustain made her presence felt on the boards as she grabbed eight rebounds while blocking two shots in the paint.

Northwest tips off the regular season Nov. 9 as they take on Quincy University in Quincy, Ill with the game to set to start at 6 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior quarterback Trevor Adams put up superstar numbers Saturday in the Bearcats’ 52-21 victory over previously unbeaten Washburn.

Adams completed 23 of 27 passes for 306 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

His performance was one reason why No. 2 Northwest improved to 9-0 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA.

But the main reason why the Bearcats are having a special season is because they are a collective unit pulling in the same direction, striving for the same goals.

The performance Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Stadium was a fitting way for the entire team to celebrate the seniors on their day.

“It was pretty special because all week we just been preparing for a tough game,” said senior wide receiver Clint Utter, who caught four passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. “They are always a tough team for us.

“I feel like everybody was really psyched and ready to come out and play. It really showed because we got ahead early. The defense played great. The offense kept moving. We are right where we need to be right now.”

Playing your last regular season home game is emotional for seniors. They can’t help but reflect on all the moments that led them to this day.

It started well for Northwest. Back-up sophomore Brady Bolles put the Bearcats on the scoreboard first with a 3-yard run with 5 minutes, 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

Northwest solidified its lead with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Adams tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to junior Bryce Young.

As well as the offense was playing, the defense was just as good in the first half. The Bearcats picked off three passes in the first two quarters.

Those turnovers helped Northwest build a 28-0 lead before Washburn found any kind of offensive rhythm.

Northwest went into halftime with a comfortable 35-14 lead.

In the second half, the Bearcats kept forcing turnovers. Sophomore nose guard Brandon Yost recovered a fumble, recorded a pair of sacks and had an interception on a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage.

“Honestly, we played as hard as we did all season,” said Yost, who talked about his teammates instead of first mentioning his interception. “This game is just like any other game. We are going to give it our best. Halfway through the second quarter we let up and we can’t do that.”

Yost echoed the words of the seniors, which shows their leadership has rubbed off on the underclassmen.

Still, Yost’s interception was memorable. It is not often a nose guard gets an interception. Yost came up with a great line for his pick.

“The coaches always make fun of me. They think I see a hamburger coming towards me.”

The only touchdown Northwest surrendered in the second half was a 98-yard kickoff return by Jaime Myers early in the fourth quarter.

That was the only true miscue for the Bearcats in a game that had a Hollywood ending about 10 minutes after the clock struck 0:00.

Senior running back Billy Creason, who rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, got down on his knees and purposed to his girlfriend, Sydney Borowski. Creason planned it out.

“DJ Gnader came out and said he had a special announcement and he pulled her up and then I popped in behind her. DJ said, ‘I think he has a question for you.’

“Oh man, yes I was nervous. I almost couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. I got all choked up.”

Undoubtedly, Creason will hear a joke or two from his teammates.

“I saw it,” Utter said. “It was awesome. Congratulations to him. I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”

Creason was probably more nervous in that moment than at any time during the game. Borowski said yes, making it an afternoon that Creason will always remember.

Actually, it was a day that all the seniors will recall fondly. They once again played as a team and came away with an impressive victory.

“They are great role models,” Yost said. “They set the tone at practice. I wouldn’t want any other group of guys out there leading us.”

— Northwest Sports Information —

As the volleyball matches become fewer, Northwest Missouri State volleyball team understands it needs to be near perfect to make a run for a spot in the MIAA Tournament.

Northwest played with that kind of urgency Saturday night at Bearcat Arena.Following up on Friday’s victory, the Bearcats won their second straight match in impressive fashion, beating Missouri Southern 25-18, 25-16, 25-19.

“It was huge because we kind of went through a dry spell with losing,” said sophomore hitter Shelby Duren, who finished with a team-high eight kills. “It makes your confidence go so much higher. It gets you ready to go out and finish the season strong.”

The Lions entered Saturday’s match searching for their first MIAA win. Northwest was not going take this team lightly. Southern beat the Bearcats in four sets in a nonconference match in Joplin, Mo., on Sept. 21.

Southern believed it could pull off the win. The Bearcats dashed those hopes in the latter stages of the first set and then never let up.

Clinging to a slim 19-18 lead, Northwest was at a spot in the first set that posed danger. A couple of errors by the Bearcats and they were looking at letting the first set slip away.

Instead, a kill by Abby Graves put the momentum entirely on the Bearcat side. Graves added another kill and that led the way to Mackie Keller serving out the first set.

“It is hard to play two nights in a row at a high level,” Northwest coach Amy Woerth said. “Last night was probably the best we have played in a long time. So I knew tonight would probably be more of a challenge to get into that mode again.”

Southern actually had five more kills, but errors doomed the Lions in the first set. They had seven errors on kill attempts and another three service errors.

The Bearcats played a much cleaner first set, recording only four errors and no service errors.

Northwest was more impressive in the second set, taking a 9-7 lead and extending it to 18-11. Brooke Bartosh was the big hitter in the second set,recording three kills.

“We have a lot of capable people who can put the ball away,” Woerth said. “A diverse offense is a good thing.”

Seven players had at least one kill for Northwest in the second set. In contrast, Southern only had three players record kills in the second set.

“It feels good because volleyball is a team effort so not one person can carry the team so when it is spread out, it feels more like an accomplishment,” Duren said.

Northwest was never threatened in the second set as it built a commanding a24-13 lead.

The Bearcats came out strong again in the third set. They quickly took a 7-3 lead and slowly built it to 20-12.

“They are starting to understand when they need to push,” Woerth said. “Understanding when they need to push and actually getting it done are two different things.

“They are getting more mature and they are actually doing it. It is nice to see when the pressure is on, that we are able to push and put the pressure on them.”

Southern made a run late in the third set and closed to 21-17, forcing a timeout by Northwest. The Lions scored the next point to make it 21-18. The run ended on a thunderous kill by Duren.

A Keller kill ended the match.

“It is a great feeling,” said Keller, who finished with seven kills. “All the points before that matter, but it is awesome.”

It was an all around solid match for the Bearcats. Junior Bailey Vance finished with 18 digs. Junior Kirsten Hudgens and Senior Bridget Hanafin did a great job setting up the hitters, getting 15 and 14 assists respectively.

“Finish strong is our goal,” Keller said. “That’s what we tried to go with.”

— Northwest Sports Information —