Jan. 17 - Lee Arena (Topeka, Kan.)
Northwest Missouri State at Washburn, 5:30 p.m.
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NORTHWEST, WASHBURN SET FOR RESCHEDULED GAME MONDAY IN TOPEKA
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat women's basketball team (11-4 overall, 6-3 MIAA) will travel to Topeka, Kan., for a makeup date Monday with the Washburn Ichabods (5-9, 3-8 MIAA). Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. in Lee Arena.

NORTHWEST VS. WASHBURN
Washburn holds a 59-11 lead in the all-times series with Northwest. The Ichabods have won 15 of the last 16 matchups with the Bearcats. Northwest's last win in the series came Feb. 28, 2019, at Lee Arena in Topeka, 72-70.

BEARCATS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK
Northwest dropped two contests this past week to a pair of ranked opponents. No. 2 Fort Hays State held off Northwest in Hays, Kan., 63-60. No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney pulled off a 67-60 win Saturday in Bearcat Arena.

SIX TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE WITH THREE MIAA LOSSES OR LESS
Northwest is one of six MIAA teams with three MIAA losses or less. No. 2-ranked Fort Hays State and No. 16-ranked Nebraska-Kearney are tied for the league lead at 9-1.
    Four teams sit behind them with three league losses - including Central Missouri (8-3), Missouri Southern (7-3), Northwest (6-3) and Missouri Western (6-3).

TOP 10 QUALIFY FOR MIAA TOURNAMENT
The top 10 teams in the final regular season league standings will qualify for the 2022 MIAA Tournament set for March 2-6 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

PROTECTING BEARCAT ARENA
Northwest has produced a mark of 8-2 in Bearcat Arena this season. The eight home wins are the most victories in Bearcat Arena since Northwest went 8-8 at home in the 2013-14 season.

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

TRIO OF SINGLE-DIGIT MIAA SETBACKS
Northwest's three league losses have all come by single digits.
    Central Missouri notched a three-point win (60-57) over Northwest on Dec. 13 in Warrensburg, Mo.
    No. 2 Fort Hays State held off Northwest by three points (63-60) in Hays, Kan., on Jan. 12.
    No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney secured a seven-point victory (67-60) over Northwest in Bearcat Arena on Jan. 15.

FIRST TWO HALFTIME DEFICITS OF YEAR
Northwest faced its first two halftime deficits of the season at Fort Hays State and at home vs. Nebraska-Kearney.
    Fort Hays State held a 35-28 lead at the break at Gross Coliseum en route to a 63-60 win over Northwest.
    Nebraska-Kearney owned a 36-24 advantage at the intermission on its way to a 67-60 victory over the Bearcats.
    Northwest has held the halftime lead in 10 contests and been level at the half in three other matchups. Northwest is 8-2 when holding the lead at the break and 3-0 when tied at the intermission.

NO. 7 IN D2SIDA CENTRAL REGION POLL
Northwest fell one spot to No. 7 in the Jan. 10 D2SIDA Central Region poll. Fort Hays State is ranked No.1 with Nebraska-Kearney coming in at No. 3. Missouri Western is ranked No. 5 with the Bearcats at No. 6. Central Missouri moved into the poll at No. 8. Central Oklahoma is receiving votes.

D2SIDA Central Region Poll
1. Fort Hays State (4)    14-1
2. Southwestern Okla. St.    14-2    
3. Nebraska-Kearney (1)    13-2
4. St. Cloud State        11-2
5. Missouri Western        12-2
6. Minnesota-Duluth    10-4
7. Northwest Mo. St.    11-3
8. Central Missouri        10-6
9. Minnesota State        11-3
10. Concordia-St. Paul    10-4

BEST IN MIAA IN SCORING DEFENSE
The Bearcats rank No. 2 in the MIAA (No. 14 in the nation) in scoring defense by holding opponents to 54.7 points per game. Nebraska-Kearney leads the league in scoring defense at 53.9 points per contest.
    Northwest has held five opponents to fewer than 50 points, including a season-low of 29 to McKendree.
    Northwest's highest point total allowed this season was 64 in the season-opener vs. Southwest Minnesota State. Since then, Northwest has allowed only five teams to score 60 or more points this season.

NCAA Div. II Scoring Defense
Rk.    School    PPG Allowed
1.    Grand Valley State    48.1
2.    USciences    49.1
3.    Eckerd    49.4
4.    Indiana (Pa.)    50.5
5.    California (Pa.)    50.6
6.    Missouri-St. Louis    51.3
7.    Lubbock Christian    51.8
8.    Colorado Mines    52.0
9.    Western Washington    52.1
10.    Colorado Mesa    52.6
11.    Valdosta State    52.9
12.    UNC Pembroke    53.0
13.    Mount Olive    53.4
14.    Nebraska-Kearney    53.5
15.    Northwest Mo. St.    54.7

BEARCATS LIMITING FG PERCENTAGES
Through nine league games, Northwest ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in field goal percentage defense (38.1%).
    On the entire season, the Bearcats rank No. 4 in the MIAA in field goal defense at 38.1%.
    
MCCONKEY GOES FOR 23 VS LIONS
Redshirt freshman Molly Hartnett was the lone Bearcat to reach double-figure scoring in its 67-60 loss to Nebraska-Kearney.
    Hartnett tallied 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. She knocked in two three-pointers and went 3-of-4 at the free throw line.
    It marks the 23rd time in her Bearcat career that Hartnett scored 10 or more points in a game.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Mallory McConkey - 43
Molly Hartnett - 23
Kylie Coleman - 19
Paityn Rau - 11
Jayna Green - 5
Peyton Kelderman - 5
Jillian Fleming - 4
Emma Atwood - 3
Evelyn Vazquez - 2
Caely Kesten - 1

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Mallory McConkey - 6
Molly Hartnett - 3

PERIMETER DEFENSE LOCKED IN
Northwest's defense ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in fewest three-point shots attempted (152). Northwest ranks No. 1 in the league fewest three-point field goals made by the opposition (46).
    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 No. 14 in the nation in fewest three-pointers allowed by its opponents (46).
    Through eight MIAA games, Northwest's opponents have made 29-of-92 three-pointers (31.5%).

NCAA Div. II Fewest 3-Point Attempts Allowed
Rk.    School    3-PT FG Att. Allowed
1.    Virginia Union    94
2.    California (Pa.)    107
3.    Barton    123
4.    Hawaii-Hilo    142
    Shorter    142
6.    Alaska-Anchorage    143
7.    Mount Olive    144
8.    Bowie State    148
9.    Fresno Pacific    149
10.    Northwest Mo. St.    152
(minimum of five games played)

NOT A LOT OF TURNOVERS
Northwest ranks No. 12 in the nation (No. 3 in the MIAA) in fewest turnovers per game. The Bearcats are averaging 12.4 turnovers per game. Nebraska-Kearney is tops in the nation with 10.4 turnovers per game, while Fort Hays State is No. 6 at 11.9 turnovers per contest.

NCAA Div. II Fewest Turnovers Per Game
Rk.    School    TPG
1.     Nebraska-Kearney    10.7
2.    Ferris State    11.5
3.    USciences    11.5
4.    Henderson State    11.7
5.    Cedarville    11.8
6.    Fort Hays State    11.9
7.    Hawaii Pacific    11.9
8.    Missouri-St. Louis    12.0
    Hawaii-Hilo    12.0
10.    Lubbock Christian    12.1
11.    MSU Moorhead    12.3
12.    Northwest Mo. St.    12.4
13.    St. Cloud State    12.6
14.    Grand Valley State    12.7
15.    Montana State-Billings    12.8

BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
Northwest is 19-2 for head coach Austin Meyer when it wins the rebounding battle.
    Northwest won the rebounding battle, 41-23, against Missouri Southern. Northwest's +18 in rebounding is the highest rebound margin this season for the Bearcats.
    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), Missouri Southern (+18) and Fort Hays State (+2).

MCCONKEY MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN
Fifth-year senior Mallory McConkey finds a way to contribute in all areas on the floor.
    She is Northwest's leading scorer at 11.3 points per game. McConkey has upped her scoring to 12.2 points per game in MIAA play. McConkey has tallied nine double-figure scoring games this season.
    McConkey is second on the squad in rebounding (4.1 rpg). She is shooting 56.9% from the field on 66-of-116 field goals.
    
MILESTONE WATCH
Mallory McConkey is edging closer to 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. McConkey has posted 966 points and 534 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

STAT TALK FOR HARTNETT
Molly Hartnett ranks No. 5 in the MIAA in free throw percentage (83.0%) as she has made 44-of-53 free throws.
    Hartnett ranks second on the Bearcats in scoring at 10.9 points per game. She has handed out a team-high 36 assists on the year.

KELDERMAN FINDS A GROOVE FROM 3
True freshman guard Peyton Kelderman has made at least one three-pointer in all 15 games this season. Kelderman has sank at least two three-pointers in 10 of the 15 contests.
    She has drained a team-best 28 three-pointers and is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. She ranks tied for No. 6 in the MIAA in most three-pointers made (28). She ranks tied for No. 4 in the league in three-pointers made per game (1.9).
    Kelderman ranks third on the team in scoring at 8.4 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.

GREEN WORKING FOR BLOCKS
Sophomore Jayna Green ranks No. 8 on Northwest's all-time blocked shots chart. She registered 29 blocks as a freshman before notching 33 in 2020-21. Green has blocked 22 shots this season, which ranks third in the MIAA. Green leads the team in rebounding at 5.7 boards per game.

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. Jayna Green (2019-pres.)    84
9. Lori Schneider (1986-89)    83
10. Danae Wagner (1987-90)    58

VAZQUEZ MAKING PLAYS
Freshman Evelyn Vazquez has come off the bench in all 14 games and is averaging 18.6 minutes per game.
    Vazquez leads the Bearcats in steals (13). She ranks third on the squad in assists (26). Vazquez has dished out 19 of her assists in MIAA play.
    She is averaging 5.7 points per game. She scored a season-high 13 points in a win over Missouri S&T.

FIELDS FINDS HER WAY
Freshman post player Kelsey Fields notched a pair of career highs against No. 2-ranked Fort Hays State. Fields registered 11 rebounds and eight points against the Tigers at Gross Coliseum.

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.

HOT SHOOTING VS MISSOURI SOUTHERN
Northwest shot a season-best 59.0% from the field (23-of-39) in Saturday's 61-51 win over Missouri Southern. It is the second time this season that Northwest has shot 50% or better.

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    6

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.