Press Release

Feb. 20, 2008

Bearcats Lose to Streaking Lady Blues

Box Score

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team ran into a streaking Washburn team and ended up on the wrong end of an 81-71 decision Wednesday in Topeka. The first-place Lady Blues made more than half their shots.

The Bearcats fell down 5-0 in the first minute, but tied the game at 13 after an April Miller jumper with 15:21 to play. Northwest played kept up with a hot shooting Lady Blues team, who started the game 7-of-8 from the field, and knotted the game at 25 with 5:28 remaining. Washburn would break the tie with a 14-0 run and head into the break leading 41-29.

Washburn had 16 assists on 16 field goals in the first half and shot a blistering 59.3 percent from the field. Meghan Brue scored all 11 of her points in the first nine minutes.

A Jessica Burton trey at the 15:53 mark in the second half would get Northwest within 12, 52-40, but Washburn would extend its lead to a game-high 22 points eight minutes later. Two small Bearcat runs of 6-0 and 5-0 gave Northwest a few chances to cut the lead to single digits, but the Lady Blues shooting kept their lead comfortable. The Bearcats closed the game out on an 8-0 run getting four free throws from Micaela Uriell.

Lauren Williams led Northwest with 16 points, hitting 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, and swiped four steals. Mandi Schumacher led Northwest on the glass with six boards.

UP NEXT: The Bearcats travel to Joplin, Mo. to take on Missouri Southern at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Kelli Nelson knocked down a 3-pointer, extending her streak to 11 straight games.
It's the 29th Lauren Williams has hit double digits in her career.
Northwest is now 1-3 versus ranked opponents.

TEAM NOTES
Northwest has dropped 22 straight games in Topeka.
Northwest is 1-10 when recording less assists than their opponents.
The 25 assists by Washburn is the most allowed by Northwest this season.