Dec. 15 - Bearcat Arena (Maryville, Mo.)
McKendree at Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m.
MIAA NETWORK | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

BEARCAT BATTLE SET FOR BEARCAT ARENA
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat women's basketball team (7-2 overall, 3-1 MIAA) will play host to the McKendree University Bearcats (1-8 overall, 0-3 GLVC). Tip is set for 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NORTHWEST LOOKS FOR FIFTH NON-CONF WIN
Northwest has posted a mark of 4-1 in non-conference play this season. Northwest will look for its fifth out-of-MIAA victory Wednesday night vs. McKendree.

PERIMETER DEFENSE LOCKED IN
Northwest's defense ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in fewest three-point shots allowed in both made (26) and attempted (83) by its opposition. Among Div. II teams that have played five games, Northwest ranks No. 2 in the nation in fewest three-pointers made attempted. Only Barton ranks higher by allowing 19-of-65 three-pointers.

NORTHWEST VS. MCKENDREE
McKendree owns a 3-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Northwest. The programs have met in three of the last four seasons.
    Bearcat head coach Austin Meyer is 0-2 vs. McKendree.

Northwest's Results vs. McKendree
W, 78-62 at McKendree (Nov. 28, 1989)
L, 79-70 at McKendree (Dec. 18, 2017)
L, 59-55 vs. McKendree (Dec 16, 2018)
L, 77-79 OT vs. McKendree (Nov. 30, 2019)

NO. 8 IN D2SIDA CENTRAL REGION POLL
Northwest moved up two slots to No. 8 in this week's D2SIDA Central Region poll.

D2SIDA Central Region Poll
1. Nebraska-Kearney    8-1
2. Missouri Western        8-0
3. Fort Hays State        7-1
4. Minnesota State        9-0
5. Southwestern Okla. St.    9-2
6. St. Cloud State        7-1
7. Southwest Minn. St.    7-2
8. Northwest Mo. St.    7-2
9. Arkansas Tech        5-2
10. Minnesota-Duluth    6-3

NOT A LOT OF TURNOVERS
Northwest ranks tied No. 7 in the nation (No. 3 in the MIAA) in fewest turnovers per game. The Bearcats are averaging 12.0 turnovers per game.

NCAA Div. II Fewest Turnovers Per Game
Rk.    School    TPG
1.    Hawaii-Hilo    10.5
2.     Nebraska-Kearney    10.8
3.    Lubbock Christian    11.3
4.     Hawaii-Pacific    11.4
5.     Missouri-St. Louis    11.7
6.     Northeastern State    11.8
7.     Ferris State    12.0
    Northwest Mo. St.    12.0
9.    Southwestern Okla.    12.1
10.    Cedarville    12.1
    Henderson State    12.1
    USciences    12.1

SECOND IN MIAA IN SCORING DEFENSE
The Bearcats rank No. 2 in the MIAA (No. 47 in the nation) in scoring defense by holding opponents to 55.8 points per game. Nebraska-Kearney leads the MIAA in scoring defense at 53.6 points per game.

BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
Northwest is 17-1 for head coach Austin Meyer when it wins the rebounding battle. Northwest has won the rebounding battle against Minnesota-Crookston (+2), Missouri S&T (+11), Winona State (+3), Northeastern State (+10) and Lincoln (+4).

STEADY PLAY FROM HARTNETT
Redshirst freshman guard Molly Hartnett has scored at least 14 points in all four of Northwest's MIAA games this season..
    Hartnett scored 15 points wins over Northeastern State and Rogers State. She tallied 14 points in Saturday's 56-43 win at Lincoln. Hartnett posted a team-high 17 points in Monday's loss at Central Missouri.
    She is averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game in MIAA play. Hartnett has has drained 15-of-17 free throws in league action.

MORE STAT TALK FOR HARTNETT
Molly Hartnett ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in free throw percentage (87.9%) as she has made 29-of-33 free throws.
    Hartnett leads the Bearcats in scoring at 12.1 points per game. She has also handed out a team-high 27 assists on the year.

KELDERMAN FINDS A GROOVE FROM 3
True freshman guard Peyton Kelderman has made at least one three-pointers in all nine games this season. Kelderman has sank at least two three-pointers in eight of the nine contests.
    She has drained a team-best 20 three-pointers and is shooting 35.1% from beyond the arc. Kelderman ranks tied for No. 4 in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.2). She is tied for No. 5 in the MIAA for most three-pointers made (20).
    Kelderman ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game. She has reached double-figure scoring in five games, with a season-high 16 points in a 65-62 win vs. Winona State.
    Kelderman leads the squad in steals (9).

MCCONKEY CONTRIBUTES ACROSS THE BOARD
Fifth-year senior Mallory McConkey finds a way to contribute in all areas on the floor.
    She is one of three Bearcats averaging double-figure scoring at 11.9 points per game. McConkey is second on the squad in rebounding (4.9 rpg). She is shooting 57.3% from the field on 43-of-75 field goals.

MILESTONE WATCH
Mallory McConkey is edging close to 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. McConkey has posted 904 points and 516 rebounds in her career. She would be the 19th member of the 1,000 points/500 rebounds club. She would also be the 28th player to reach 1,000 points.

Northwest's 1,000 Points/500 Rebounds
1. Julie Chadwick (1978-81) - 1,269p/1,006r
2. Janet Clark (1986-89) - 2,121p/509r
3. Janet Cooksey (1975-78) - 1,198p/663r
4. Annie Coy (1995-98) - 1,240p/545r
5. Jodi Giles (1979-82) - 1,189p/702r
6. Christy Hudlemeyer (1983-87) - 1,048p/589r
7. Lisa Kenkel (1989-92) - 1,183p/624r
8. Diane Kloewer (1981-84) - 1,489p/686r
9. Kelly Leintz (1985-88) - 1,404p/710r
10. Sandy (Cummings) Nelson (1987-90) - 1,234p/531r
11. Patty Painter (1978-81) - 1,511p/733r
12. Marla Sapp (1982-85) - 1,445p/597r
13. Tember Schechinger (2013-16) - 1,050p/616r
14. Mandi Schumacher (2005-08) - 1,411p/763r
15. Denise Sump (1997-00) - 1,471 p/694r
16. Danae Wagner (1989-92) - 1,538p/726r
17. Mary Wiebke (1980-83) - 1,011p/517r
18. Tanya Meyer (2014-18) - 1,446p/694r

GREEN WORKING FOR BLOCKS
Sophomore Jayna Green entered into Northwest's top-10 all-time shot blockers last season. She registered 29 blocks as a freshman before notching 33 in 2020-21. Green has blocked 12 shots this season, which ranks No. 4 in the MIAA.

Northwest's Blocked Shots in a Career
1. Sarah Vollertsen (2002-04)     122
2. Shelby Mustain (2014-16)    107
3. Maggie Marnin (2011-15)    100
4. Gentry Dietz (2009-11)    99
4. Kyla Roehrig (2010-11)    99
6. Jenna Wolfe (2001-04)    94
7. Tember Schechinger (2013-16)    85
8. Lori Schneider (1986-89)    83
9. Jayna Green (2019-pres.)    74
10. Danae Wagner (1987-90)    58

THREE OUT OF FOUR TO START MIAA PLAY
Northwest has begun MIAA play by winning three of its first four league matchups. Northwest's 3-0 start, prior to Monday's loss at Central Missouri, matched its best beginning to MIAA play since a 3-0 start in 2007-08.
    Northwest's best start to MIAA play came with a 7-0 start in the 2003-04 campaign.

SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK
Northwest's seven-game win streak was the longest for a Bearcat team since an 11-game win streak in the 2010-11 season.
    Northwest's longest win streak in school history is 20 set in the 1983-84 season from Nov. 18, 1983, to Feb. 1, 1984.

MEYER INCREASES CONFERENCE WINS
Bearcat head coach Austin Meyer has increased his conference win totals in each of his three seasons as a head coach.

Northwest MIAA Win Totals
2011-12     4
2012-13    8
2013-14    7
2014-15    4
2015-16    3
2016-17    4
2017-18    4
2018-19    4
2019-20    6
2020-21    7
2021-22    3

50 SEASONS STRONG
The Bearcats are playing in their 50th season as a program. The first women's basketball season was in 1971-72 when head coach Sherri Reeves led the 'Cats to a 9-2 record as MAIAW Champions. Northwest also finished 5th in the AIAW Region VI Tournament where they defeated Wayne (Neb.) State, 74-62, before falling to Kansas State, 70-66.

BEARCATS INK ST. JOSEPH PRODUCT
Northwest Missouri State University head women's basketball  coach Austin Meyer has announced a signee for the Bearcats' 2022-23 recruiting class.
    Ella Moody is a 5'10", guard from St Joseph, Mo. She will graduate from Central High School this spring and has accumulated a 3.9 GPA. Moody was a part of the Class 6 all-state team, the first in Missouri's history. She was selected the Suburban Conference Player of the Year and was an all-district selection, finishing among the Kansas City metro leaders at 19.2 points per game, averaging 6.4 rebounds.

PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY AT PIZZA RANCH
Northwest head coach Austin Meyer will be available each Tuesday from Noon - 1 p.m. for a press conference at the Maryville Pizza Ranch.