Saturday, Dec. 18 - Bearcat Arena (Maryville, Mo.)
Missouri Western at Northwest Missouri State, 1:30 p.m.
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With an expected large crowd, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets on-line to limit delays in purchasing tickets on game day.

HIGHWAY 71 RIVALRY RENEWED SATURDAY
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat women's basketball team (8-2 overall, 3-1 MIAA) will engage with its rival Missouri Western (9-0 overall, 4-0 MIAA). The Bearcats and Griffons will tip on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

FIRST 500 FANS GET FREE UNITED FIBER SHIRT
The first 500 fans attending Saturday's matchup between Missouri Western and Northwest will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of United Fiber.

TOPS IN MIAA IN SCORING DEFENSE
The Bearcats rank No. 1 in the MIAA (No. 19 in the nation) in scoring defense by holding opponents to 53.1 points per game. Nebraska-Kearney ranks second in the MIAA in scoring defense at 53.6 points per game. Northwest has held four opponents to fewer than 50 points, including a season-low of 29 to McKendree.

NORTHWEST VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
Missouri Western holds a 42-31 lead in the all-time series with Northwest. The Bearcats won both meetings last season to complete a sweep of the season series against the Griffons for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
    Bearcat head coach Austin Meyer is 2-4 vs. Missouri Western.

BEST NON-CONFERENCE SINCE TURN OF THE CENTURY FOR THE BEARCATS
Northwest completed its non-conference slate with a 5-1 record and an 83.3% win percentage - its best since the turn of the century.
    Northwest went 7-2 (77.8%) in 2004 and 2007, 6-2 (75.0%) in 2013 and 8-3 (72.7%) in 2006 for its top non-conference marks since 2000.
    Northwest produced an 14-0 non-conference mark in the 1983-84 season under head coach Wayne Winstead for its best pre-MIAA mark in program history en route to a regular season league crown.

ALREADY SURPASSING LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL
Northwest has surpassed its win total from last season only 10 games into the 2021-22 season.
    Head coach Austin Meyer notched eight wins in 2018-19, 12 wins in 2019-20 and seven wins in 2020-21.

NO. 2 IN MIAA IN FIELD GOAL DEFENSE
The Bearcats rank No. 2 in the MIAA in field goal defense at 37.5%. Nebraska-Kearney leads the league in field goal defense (35.1%).

NEAR THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE IN FREE THROWS
Northwest ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in free throw percentage at 76.9%. Northwest has made 90-of-117 free throws this season.

NO DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORERS
For the first time since Feb. 20, 2021, Northwest did not have a player reach double-figure scoring in its 54-29 win over McKendree.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Mallory McConkey - 41
Molly Hartnett - 21
Kylie Coleman - 19
Paityn Rau - 11
Jayna Green - 5
Peyton Kelderman - 5
Emma Atwood - 3
Jillian Fleming - 3
Evelyn Vazquez - 2
Caely Kesten - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Mallory McConkey - 5
Molly Hartnett - 3

NO. 8 IN D2SIDA CENTRAL REGION POLL
Northwest moved up two slots to No. 8 in this week's D2SIDA Central Region poll. Missouri Western is ranked No. 2 in the 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

PERIMETER DEFENSE LOCKED IN
Northwest's defense ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in fewest three-point shots allowed in both made (27) and attempted (96) by its opposition.
    Among Div. II teams that have played at least five games, Northwest ranks No. 6 in the nation in fewest 3-pointers attempted by its opponents.
    Northwest also ranks tied for No. 11 in the nation in fewest three-pointers allowed by its opponents (27).

NCAA Div. II Fewest 3-Point Attempts Allowed
Rk.    School    3-PT FG Att. Allowed
1.    Barton    65
2.    Virginia Union    88
3.    California (Pa.)    89
4.    East Stroudsburg    90
5.    Shorter    93
6.    Northwest Mo. St.    96
    Le Moyne    96
8.    Ashland    99
9.    Miles    104
    Hawaii-Hilo    104
    Alaska-Anchorage    104
(minimum of five games played)

NCAA Div. II Fewest 3-Pointers Made Allowed
Rk.    School    3-PT FG Made Allowed
1.    Barton    19
2.    Savannah State    20
    Miles    20
4.    Clayton State    22
5.    Hawaii-Hilo    23
6.    Elizabeth City State    24
7.    Bloomsburg    25
    Augusta    25
    Lane    25
    Alaska-Anchorage    25
11.    Northwest Mo. St.    27
    Western Washington    27
    Chowan    27
    Mississippi College    27
    Virginia Union    27
(minimum of five games played)

NOT A LOT OF TURNOVERS
Northwest ranks No. 10 in the nation (No. 3 in the MIAA) in fewest turnovers per game. The Bearcats are averaging 12.1 turnovers per game. Northeastern State is tops in the MIAA and No. 6 in the nation with 11.8 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.    Henderson State    11.3
5.     Missouri-St. Louis    11.7
6.     Northeastern State    11.8
7.     Hawaii-Pacific    11.4
8.     Ferris State    12.0
    Ursuline    12.0
10.    Northwest Mo. St.    12.1

BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
Northwest is 18-1 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), Lincoln (+4) and McKendree (+14).

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 (87.2%) as she has made 34-of-39 free throws.
    Hartnett ranks second on the Bearcats in scoring at 11.3 points per game. She has handed out a team-high 29 assists on the year.

KELDERMAN FINDS A GROOVE FROM 3
True freshman guard Peyton Kelderman has made at least one three-pointers in all 10 games this season. Kelderman has sank at least two three-pointers in eight of the 10 contests.
    She has drained a team-best 21 three-pointers and is shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc. She is tied for No. 4 in the MIAA for most three-pointers made (21). Kelderman ranks No. 5 in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.2).
    Kelderman ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.2 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 (10).

MCCONKEY CONTRIBUTES ACROSS THE BOARD
Fifth-year senior Mallory McConkey finds a way to contribute in all areas on the floor.
    She is Northwest's leading scorer at 11.4 points per game. McConkey has tallied seven double-figure scoring games this season.
    McConkey is second on the squad in rebounding (4.4 rpg). She is shooting 56.3% from the field on 45-of-80 field goals.

MILESTONE WATCH
Mallory McConkey is edging close to 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. McConkey has posted 911 points and 519 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 13 shots this season, which ranks tied for 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.)    75
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.