Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats faced off against the Northeastern State University RiverHawks for their second MIAA game of the season, coming after with a 77-68 victory. With the win, SBU improves to 7-2 (1-1 MIAA) on the season.

An 8-0 run for the Bearcats started the game. First Caylee Richardson scored on a layup from Megan Rosenbohm which Aliyah Isaac followed up with her own back to back layups. Richardson's next layup gave the Bearcats an 8-0 lead before NSU was able to get on the board. After points from NSU, Rosenbohm picked up a second assist by finding Kiana Peterson who scored on a jumper which Richardson quickly followed by another layup putting the score at 12-5 with 4:08 left on the clock. A full lineup change for the Bearcats put some new energy on the court. Madison Strong hit a 3-pointer followed by free-throws from Morgan Henderson to extend the Bearcat lead to 18-10 with 1:29 left in the first quarter. Strong ended the first quarter with a made 3-pointer to send the Bearcats into the second quarter leading 21-13. 

Alex Botkin opened up the second quarter with a layup from Richardson giving SBU their first double-digit lead of the game followed quickly by free-throws from Isaac. After points from the RiverHawks, Richardson and Peterson both connected on layups to put the score at 29-15 with 5:29 left to play in the half. A small 4-0 run by NSU was cut off by Strong's jumper from Isaac. With 2:25 on the clock, Isaac pulled back for a jumper with landed before passing it off to Mackenzie Skupa for a layup bringing the score to 36-24. NSU had another small 4-0 run to cut the Bearcat lead to 8 points, but Rosenbohm's 3-pointer put SBU's lead back to double digits 39-28 as the Bearcats headed into the half.

The RiverHawks started the 3rd quarter by cutting the Bearcats lead back into single-digits. After a Peterson jumper, Isaac then picked up her 6th assist of the game when Botkin hit a 3-pointer extending the Bearcats lead to 44-32 with 7:48 left in the quarter. Strong picked up an assist when she found Richardson in the paint which she then followed with her own 3-pointer giving SBU a 15 point lead (52-37). Shots dropped for both teams as the Bearcats maintained a solid lead over the RiverHawks. At 3:28 in the quarter Isaac's 8th assist of the game went to Skupa who put up a layup bringing the score to 58-41. A 5-0 run by NSU was stopped by Rosenbohm's free throws with 0:18 on the clock. A late layup by NSU landed but the Bearcats still headed into the final quarter with a solid 60-48 lead.
 
NSU was the first to score in the fourth quarter, but SBU responded with a 6-0 run receiving shots from Botkin, Richardson, and Rosenbohm. With the clock showing 6:19, Strong found Peterson deep into the paint for a layup brining the score to 68-53. After points from NSU, the quarter was held scoreless over the next couple minutes until Rosenbohm found Peterson, this time outside the 3-point line, and the shot dropped as SBU led 71-57 with 3:59 left on the clock. A 6-0 run by NSU cut the Bearcat lead to 8 points (71-63 SBU) which Rosenbohm cut off with free-throw with 1:35 left in the game. NSU used a 5-0 run to pull within 5 points but a free-throw by Isaac kept the Bearcats slim lead at 74-68 with under a minute left to play. Late free-throws from Isaac and Peterson went in as the Bearcats sealed the 77-68 victory. 

Caylee Richardson picked up a team high 16 points to go with 8 rebounds while Madison Strong contributed 14 points off the bench. Aliyah Isaac had a strong offensive game with 10 points and a career high 8 assists. Kiana Peterson had her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds shooting a remarkable 83% from the field. As a team SBU shot 52.9% from the field, 46.7% from behind the 3-point line, and 66.7% from the free-throw line.

The Bearcats will hit the road on Saturday, December 17th when they travel to Central Missouri. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Missouri.