Shorthanded Bearcat Women Split in Colorado

The Northwest Missouri State women split their games in Lakewood, CO as they beat Texas Women's College, a playoff foe from two years ago during their Final Four run, 63-40 and then fell 71-68 to host Colorado Christian this past weekend. The team got some new career highs in Colorado, which will only help them down the road as they seek to establish more scoring threats. The goal for the team will be to take better care of the ball and to play better in the back end of back to back games. Both of their losses have come on the second end of back to back games. The Bearcats have struggled taking care of the ball without point guard Victoria Naylor, who was injured early on in the William Jewell loss and did not return. They have turned the ball over 25, 22, and 23 times in their last three games.

Against Texas Woman's University, the Bearcats took a 28-7 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game and never looked back. They turned the ball over 22 times, but forced 33 TWU turnovers in the win. Monique Stevens started in Naylor's place and had 5 assists and 6 steals. Northwest posted four in double figures; Annie Matthews had 14 points, followed by Maggie Marnin and Maryville produce Meridee Scott with 13. Ashleigh Nelson added 11. Tarkio product Denise McEnaney saw extended minutes in the game and had two steals in 17 minutes.

Northwest had some positives in the 71-68 loss to Colorado Christian; they had three players record career highs. Tember Schechinger led the scoring with a career high of 24; her career continues to take off as the scary thing is that she's only a freshman. Annie Matthews followed with a career high of 16 points and had a double double with 10 boards and a block. Monique Stevens had a career high of 11 points, getting her first double figure game as a Bearcat. The game was very evenly matched with neither team leading by more than 7 points. But in the end, the turnover bug was too much for the Bearcats as they turned the ball over 23 times and could only force 18. The Bearcats will know right away how much they have progressed during the year as they will travel to #8 Rogers State (OK) to face their toughest opponent of the year.