Traci Bybee had 20 points, 17 scored in the 2nd half, to lead SBU.

[box vs. NWMSU]

MARYVILLE, MO. ... Down by 16 at the half, Southwest Baptist (8-6/1-3) made a gallant effort on a comeback that fell short to Northwest Missouri State (9-5/1-2), 72-67.  SBU had the lead down to two with 10:46 left in the game but did not get any closer the rest of the game.

Junior Livia Brito grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and had 19 points for her second career double-double at SBU.  Freshman Traci Bybee lead SBU with 20 points with 17 coming in the second half.  Courtney Creed added 12 points.  NWMSU's Meghan Blay led all scorers with 22 points.

SBU opened up the game with a three-pointer by Bybee, her only points of the first half, as the Lady Bearcats took a 3-0 lead.  NWMSU scored the next four points and then Casey Beavers nailed a three-pointer for a 6-4 advantage at the 16:37 mark.  The green Bearcats answered right back with their own three-pointer but SBU's Amy Dodd hit a 10-foot jumper to retake the lead, 8-7.  That is the last lead SBU would see as NWMSU went on a 16-6 run over the next three minutes for a nine-point lead, 23-14.  The green Bearcats slowly pushed their lead to 15 by the 1:27 mark and then made it 16 points as the buzzer sounded at the half on a layup, 45-29.

The purple Bearcats outscored NWMSU 38-27 in the second half but could not overcome the 16-point halftime lead.  SBU came out firing in the beginning of the second half as they went on a 21-7 run in  the first 10 minutes to cut the lead to two, 52-50.  NWMSU made a free throw with 10:24 to go for a three-point advantage as SBU tried to tie the game over the next two minutes.  SBU had four shots in that two minutes but could not find the net as NWMSU made two free throws at teh 7:47 mark.  NWMSU pushed their lead to nine with 3:55 to go.  SBU did bring the lead back down to four, 68-64, with 31 seconds left on a three-pointer by Bybee but it was too late as NWMSU made all their free throws down the stretch. 

SBU finished shooting 34% from the floor on the game but a poor first half of 30% on the floor and 25% from beyond the arc hurt the Lady Bearcats.  NWMSU shot 34% but made 19-38 in the first half for 50%.  Each team came away with 51 rebounds.  SBU had 19 turnovers and 12 steals.

The Lady Bearcats will host Central Missouri State on Tuesday, January 10, at 5:45 p.m. in the Meyer Sports Center.