Saturday, Jan. 1 - Bearcat Arena (Maryville, Mo.)
Missouri Southern at Northwest Missouri State, 1:30 p.m.
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Monday, Jan. 3 - Bearcat Arena (Maryville, Mo.)
Pittsburg State at Northwest Missouri State, 5:30 p.m.
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NORTHWEST RINGS IN NEW YEAR WITH HOME GAMES VS MISSOURI SOUTHERN, PITTSBURG STATE
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat women's basketball team (9-2 overall, 4-1 MIAA) will open up 2022 with a pair of home conference games. Northwest will play host to Missouri Southern (7-3 overall, 4-1 MIAA) Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Northwest will then take on Pittsburg State (8-3 overall, 4-2 MIAA) on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

BEST IN MIAA IN SCORING DEFENSE
The Bearcats rank No. 1 in the MIAA (No. 11 in the nation) in scoring defense by holding opponents to 52.5 points per game. Nebraska-Kearney ranks second in the MIAA in scoring defense at 54.0 points per game. Northwest has held five opponents to fewer than 50 points, including a season-low of 29 to McKendree.

NORTHWEST VS. MISSOURI SOUTHERN
Missouri Southern holds a 34-27 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 Lions for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
    Bearcat head coach Austin Meyer is 2-3 vs. Missouri Southern.

NORTHWEST VS. PITTSBURG STATE
Pittsburg State owns a 41-20 advantage in the all-time series with Northwest. The Gorillas have won 17 straight matchups with Northwest dating back to the 2011-12 season.
    Northwest's last win over PSU came March 5, 2011, at the MIAA Tournament when the Bearcats secured a 84-63 triumph.
    The Gorillas are one of four MIAA teams (Central Missouri, Emporia State and Fort Hays State) that head coach Austin Meyer has yet to defeat in his tenure on the Bearcat sideline. Meyer is 0-5 against the Gorillas.

PROTECTING BEARCAT ARENA
Northwest has produced six home wins this season. The six home wins are the most victories in Bearcat Arena since Northwest tallied seven home triumphs in the 2014-15 season.

Most Home Wins Since 2010-11
15-0 - 2010-11
10-4 - 2012-13
8-8 - 2013-14
7-8 - 2014-15
6-1 - 2021-22

NO. 7 IN D2SIDA CENTRAL REGION POLL
Northwest moved up two slots to No. 7 in the Dec. 20 D2SIDA Central Region poll. Nebraska-Kearney is ranked No. 1 with Fort Hays State at No. 2, Missouri Western at No. 6 and Central Missouri checks in at No. 9.

D2SIDA Central Region Poll
1. Nebraska-Kearney (6)    10-1
2. Fort Hays State        9-1
3. Minnesota State        11-0
4. Southwestern Okla. St.    10-2
5. St. Cloud State        8-2
6. Missouri Western        9-1
7. Northwest Mo. St.    9-2
8. Minnesota-Duluth    8-3
9. Central Missouri        8-4
10. Arkansas Tech        5-2

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 (36.0%).
    In its 49-46 win over Missouri Western, Northwest limited the Griffons to 28.9% shooting from the field (13-of-14 FGs).

NO DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORERS
Northwest has had back-to-back games of not having a double-figure scorer, but the Bearcats have been victorious in both encounters.
    Northwest defeated McKendree, 54-29, with Caely Kesten and Jayna Green leading the team in scoring with nine points each.
    Northwest took down previously unbeaten Missouri Western, 49-46, with Peyton Kelderman leading the squad in scoring with nine.

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

PERIMETER DEFENSE LOCKED IN
Northwest's defense ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in fewest three-point shots allowed in both made (29) and attempted (104) by its opposition.
    Among Div. II teams that have played at least five games, Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in fewest 3-pointers attempted by its opponents.
    Northwest also ranks tied for No. 7 in the nation in fewest three-pointers allowed by its opponents (29).
    Through five MIAA games, Northwest's opponents have made 12-of-44 three-pointers (27.3%).

NCAA Div. II Fewest 3-Point Attempts Allowed
Rk.    School    3-PT FG Att. Allowed
1.    Virginia Union    88
2.    Shorter    95
3.    Barton    96
4.    Northwest Mo. St.    104
5.    Clayton St.    106
6.    California (Pa.)    107
7.    Miles    117
8.    Alaska-Fairbanks    120
    Ashland    120
10.    Lynn    122
    Cal St. San Marcos    122
(minimum of five games played)

NCAA Div. II Fewest 3-Pointers Made Allowed
Rk.    School    3-PT FG Made Allowed
1.    Miles    22
    Clayton State    22
3.    Augusta    25
4.    Barton    26
5.    Hawaii-Hilo    27
    Virginia Union    27
7.    Northwest Mo. St.    29
    Western Washington    29
    Chowan    29
    Queens (NY)    29
    Lynn    29
(minimum of five games played)

NOT A LOT OF TURNOVERS
Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation (No. 2 in the MIAA) in fewest turnovers per game. The Bearcats are averaging 11.7 turnovers per game. Nebraska-Kearney is tops in the nation with 10.3 turnovers per game.

NCAA Div. II Fewest Turnovers Per Game
Rk.    School    TPG
1.     Nebraska-Kearney    10.3
2.    Henderson St,    11.0
3.    Cedarville    11.2
4.    Lubbock Christian    11.3
5.    Northwest Mo. St.    11.7
6.    Hawaii-Hilo    11.9
7.    Ferris State    12.0
    Malone    12.0
9.    Northeastern St.    12.1
10.    Missouri-St. Louis    12.1

TOPS IN BLOCKS IN MIAA
Northwest leads the MIAA in blocked shots (44) and in blocked shots per game (4.0).

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
Redshirt freshman guard Molly Hartnett has scored at least 14 points in all four of Northwest's five MIAA games this season.
    Hartnett scored 15 points wins over Northeastern State and Rogers State. She tallied 14 points in a 56-43 win at Lincoln. Hartnett posted a team-high 17 points in a loss at Central Missouri.
    She is averaging a team-best 13.2 points per game in MIAA play. Hartnett has has drained 17-of-19 free throws in league action.

MORE STAT TALK FOR HARTNETT
Molly Hartnett ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in free throw percentage (87.8%) as she has made 36-of-41 free throws.
    Hartnett ranks second on the Bearcats in scoring at 10.7 points per game. She has handed out a team-high 31 assists on the year.

KELDERMAN FINDS A GROOVE FROM 3
True freshman guard Peyton Kelderman has made at least one three-pointers in all 11 games this season. Kelderman has sank at least two three-pointers in nine of the 11 contests.
    She has drained a team-best 23 three-pointers and is shooting 32.9% from beyond the arc. She ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in most three-pointers made (23). Kelderman ranks tied for No. 3 in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.1).
    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 11.1 points per game. McConkey has tallied seven double-figure scoring games this season.
    McConkey is second on the squad in rebounding (4.7 rpg). She is shooting 53.8% from the field on 49-of-91 field goals.

MILESTONE WATCH
Mallory McConkey is edging closer to 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. McConkey has posted 919 points and 524 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 17 shots this season, which ranks No. 2 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.)    79
10. Danae Wagner (1987-90)    58

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 SURPASSED LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL
It only took 10 games into the 2021-22 season for Northwest to surpass its victory total from the previous season.
    Head coach Austin Meyer has led the turn around of the program going from eight wins in 2018-19 to 12 wins in 2019-20 and seven victories in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

FOUR OUT OF FIVE TO START MIAA PLAY
Northwest has begun MIAA play by winning four of its first five league matchups. 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    4

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.