Box score | Season stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. --  SBU seniors Rachel Graves, Jasmine Sanford, and Carissa Morrill went out on top in their final game at the Meyer Sports Center, defeating the green Bearcats from Northwest Missouri State, 89-76. The Bearcats also pulled to within just half a game behind Nebraska-Omaha for the final spot in the MIAA Tournament.
 
While the Bearcat seniors were honored before the game, it was SBU's freshman who led the way offensively. Forward Chasity Prince led the 'Cats in scoring, with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Freddie Sims scored a career high 14 points, including three treys.
 
"It was a total team effort," remarked head coach J.C. Carter after the win. "I'm so glad for our seniors; it's a great way to send them out. We have everyone stepping up. They're playing well because of our defense. Tonight we also passed the ball well and were unselfish." SBU had 22 assists on the night, which tied a season high.
 
Northwest Missouri held an early 8-6 lead about five minutes into the game, but that would be the last time the green Bearcats would be in front, as Whitney Malone tied the game with the first of her five field goals for the night.
 
From that point, SBU would go on a 16-5 run over five minutes and never look back. Northwest Missouri climbed back to within five points after a jumper from Emily Hauder with about seven minutes remaining in the first half, but then were outscored by 15 points to make it a 49-29 SBU halftime lead.
 
SBU was in control with a comfortable lead the rest of the game, getting as far as 29 points ahead of NWMSU when Sims hit one of her three deep shots to make it 79-50 with about eight minutes remaining.
 
Out of the eight (purple) Bearcats that scored in the game, six finished in double-figures, while the other two (freshman Kourtni Williams and junior Ashleigh Gallio) ended up with nine points apiece. Sanford went for 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in her final game in Bolivar, as three other Bearcats ended with 10 points each (Courtney Heady, Graves and Malone).
 
Before the game, the three seniors were honored, along with student assistant Tashia Pratt, who played last season and has been an assistant on the coaching staff during this year as she finishes working toward her degree.
 
SBU moves to 9-17 on the year, and 7-12 in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri State falls to 12-14 overall, 8-11 in the conference. SBU travels to St. Joseph, Mo., on Saturday evening, in the final game of the regular season to take on the Missouri Western Griffons. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm.