MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats used a 6-1 run in the final 1:28 of the game Saturday to defeat the Lincoln Blue Tigers 63-59 in women's basketball action.
Kate Frazier of Lincoln hit a pair of free throws with 1:47 remaining to give the Blue Tigers a 58-57 lead. But Northwest answered with a basket by Taylor Shull with 1:28 left to take the lead for good at 59-58.
Lincoln's lone point the rest of the way came on a free throw by Kelsey Williams with 30 seconds remaining to pull the Blue Tigers to within two at 61-59.
Northwest, which led by four points at intermission, took its biggest lead of the game at 42-35 just under four minutes into the second half. Lincoln battled back to tie the game at 52 on a layup by Williams with 7:35 remaining. That was part of an 8-0 run that concluded with Lincoln taking its biggest lead of the contest at 56-52 with 4:05 left.
Hunter Yoakum came off the bench to lead Lincoln with 18 points and eight rebounds. Williams and Frazier added 16 points each.
Tanya Meyer had 17 points to lead Northwest Missouri State (8-15 overall, 4-10 MIAA). Shelby Mustain, a former Jefferson City Lady Jay, added 14 points while pulling down six rebounds, while Tember Schechinger added 12 points.
Lincoln (10-9 , 5-9), which had a four-game winning streak snapped, is back in action Wednesday against Central Missouri at Jason Gym. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
III
In the men's game, Northwest Missouri State closed the first half with an 11-2 run Saturday on its way to a 77-67 win against Lincoln.
A layup by Victor Scott with 2:18 remaining before halftime tied the game at 28. But Conner Crooker hit a 3-pointer on Northwest's next possession to spark the closing spurt that sent the Bearcats into halftime with a 39-30 lead.
Lincoln got to within two at 42-40 with 15:04 left on a bucket by Aaron Spudich. But Northwest answered again, this time with an 8-0 run to stretch its lead to double digits.
The closest Lincoln would get the rest of the way was four points. Northwest led by as many as 17.
Jeremy Jackson had 18 points to lead Lincoln, Joshua Buie added 15 points to go along with a team-high six rebounds, while Scott totaled 14 points.
Crooker scored a game-high 21 points for Northwest (17-5, 10-4), while Justin Pitts added 18 and Zach Schneider totaled 15. The trio combined 10-of-17 on 3-pointers.
Lincoln (4-19, 1-13) will host Central Missouri on Wednesday at Jason Gym. Game time is 7:30 p.m.