Northwest Missouri had a chance to claim a share of the MIAA championship with a win on Tuesday night.

Southwest Baptist had other plans and upset the No. 16-ranked Bearcats, 91-77 at Meyer Sports Arena in Bolivar, Mo.

The loss drops Northwest into a tie for first place with Missouri Southern, both with identical 14-5 MIAA records. The winner of Saturday’s clash between the two teams in Maryville, Mo., gains a share of the league crown and could still win it outright.

Central Missouri and Washburn are both 13-5 and could grab a piece of the crown by sweeping their final two MIAA games this week.

“I think we pretty well hit rock bottom,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “We have no pressure on Saturday. We wanted to win it outright. We know we can do better, and we can improve.”

Baptist (18-10, 11-8 MIAA) was on fire all night, hitting 9-of-13 3-pointers and converting on 30-of-36 free throws.

Baptist’s trio of Ryan Dougherty, Kyle Sloan and Jake Littrel were a combined 9-for-10 on 3-pointers.

Northwest (20-5, 14-5) trailed 32-28 at halftime, a deficit that grew when Sloan hit a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half. The Bearcats’ cut the deficit to three points twice, but Baptist answered both times with 3-pointers.

Dougherty, who had a game-high 24 points, and Sloan hit back-to-back 3s at the 10-minute mark to expand the lead to 16 points. From there, Northwest never closed the gap to single digits.

Northwest’s DeAngelo Hailey recorded double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds. DeShaun Cooper tallied 20.

Northwest Missouri State women 75, Southwest Baptist 61

The Bearcats, once an afterthought for qualifying for the MIAA Tournament, improved their chances of making the field with their first MIAA road win.

Northwest snapped an 10-game road losing skid, dating to just after December’s Oahu Classic in Hawaii.

The victory moves Northwest into a tie for 9th place, a ½ game behind Missouri Western for the eighth and final spot in Kansas City. However a Western victory tonight or Saturday eliminates the Bearcats.

“We are hanging around, but I don’t know how,” coach Gene Steinmeyer said. “We have got to root like crazy against Missouri Western. If they win one, we are out. But, if they lose 2 and we beat Southern (on Saturday) we are in.

“We have failed to meet expectations this year, but it would be some consolation to make it to Kansas City.”

Northwest (6-21, 4-15 MIAA) led 33-32 at halftime before pulling away for good thanks to a 19-4 run early in the second half.

Abby Henry, who tallied a game-high 24 points, scored eight points during the Bearcats’ run, including two 3-pointers, and freshman center Maggie Marnin sank two jumpers.

During the run the Bearcats expanded a 1-point lead to 16. Midway through the second half the lead peaked at 19 points following Meridee Scott’s consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer.

Northwest connected on 48 percent of its shots from the field in the second half.

Baptist (9-16, 4-15) rallied to cut the double-digit deficit down to six late in the game. Henry helped Northwest pull away again, making six straight free throws during the final two minutes. Coupled with Shelly Martin’s free throw conversions, Northwest connected on 8-of-8 over the final 1:20.

Henry was the only Bearcat to score in double figures.

Candace Boeh had nine, while Maggie Marnin scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.