Friday, Nov. 11
Northwest Missouri State vs. Southwest Minnesota State
Kearney, Neb. | 5 p.m.
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Saturday, Nov. 12
Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota Crookston
Kearney, Neb. | 2 p.m.
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University of Nebraska-Kearney Tournament
The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team opens up regular season play with a pair of games in a tournament hosted by Nebraska-Kearney. The Bearcats will take on Southwest Minnesota State Friday evening followed by Minnesota Crookston Saturday afternoon.
 
Northwest vs. SMSU
Northwest played against SMSU November 12, 2021, inside of Bearcat Arena. The Mustangs outscored the Bearcats 64-48 after Northwest gave up a 21-point first quarter lead.
 
The series between the two teams is tied up at 2-2.
 
Last Four Games Against SMSU
L, 64-48 vs. Southwest Minnesota State (11/12/21)
W, 93-46 vs. Southwest Minn. St. (11/16/12)
W, 81-70 vs. Southwest Minn. St. (11/20/04)
L, 77-67 vs. Southwest Minn. St. (11/18/00)
 
About SMSU
The Mustangs lost their two leading scorers last year who averaged 14.9 ppg and 13.3 ppg. They also lost their third leading scorer who averaged 8.7 ppg as well as a team high 5.6 rebounds per game. The Mustangs do return Sam Wall (7.7 ppg), and Jenna Borchers (7.5 ppg). Wall shot 39.7% from beyond the arc last season draining 46 of 116 attempts.
 
SMSU shot 38.3% from the field last season and 31.0% from 3-point land. The Mustangs recorded 176 steals last year and averaged 66.4 points per game. Their opponents averaged 65.8 points per game.
 
Northwest vs. Minnesota Crookston
The Bearcats will meet the Eagles for the fourth time since the 2018-2019 season. The series is 2-1 in favor of Northwest with the most recent victory coming November 13, 2021. The Bearcats topped Crookston, 53-48.
 
Last Three Games Against Crookston
W, 53-48 vs Minnesota Crookston (11/13/21)
W, 66-64 vs. Minnesota Crookston (11/9/19)
L, 79-71 vs. Minnesota Crookston (11/10/18)
 
About Minnesota Crookston
Crookston is coming off a season where they recorded just four wins. They return just one of the team's top-five scorers from last season. Bren Fox was the fourth leading scorer for the Eagles at 8.2 ppg. Fox shot 39.8% from the field and went 1 of 16 from beyond the arc. She was the team's second leading rebounder at 5.6 rebounds per game.
 
As a team, Crookston averaged 59.6 points per game and allowed its opponents an average of 66.7 points per game. The Eagles shot 32.1% from beyond the arc and 38.8% from the field.
 
FULL OF YOUTH
This year's Bearcat women's basketball team of 15 players features zero seniors. The team has one freshman, five redshirt freshmen, seven sophomores and two juniors in Jayna Green and Paityn Rau.
 
GREEN CLOSING IN ON BLOCK RECORD
Junior Jayna Green is already second on the list for blocks in a career. With 105 total blocks in her career, Green only needs 18 more to take over the number one spot. She finished last season with a career high 43 blocks, which also places her tied for fifth for blocks in a season.
 
Northwest's Blocked Shots in a Career

1. Sarah Vollertsen (2002-04) – 122
2. Shelby Mustain (2014-16) – 107
3.  Jayna Green (2019-pres.) – 105
4. Maggie Marnin (2011-15) – 100
5. Gentry Dietz 2009-11) – 99
6. Kyla Roehrig (2010-11) – 99
7. Jenna Wolfe (2001-04) – 94
8. Tember Schechinger (2013-16) – 85
9. Lori Schneider (1986-89) – 83
10. Danae Wagner (1987-90) – 58

 
BEARCATS ATOP 2021-22 MIAA STATS
Bearcat returners Jayna Green, Molly Hartnett, Peyton Kelderman, Kelsey Fields and Paityn Rau all ranked in the top 20 in several statistical categories around the conference last season.

Jayna Green finished third in blocks per game (1.7) after blocking 43 shots last year. Green also finished 12th in rebounds with 4.7 per game.

Molly Hartnett ended the season fifth overall in free throw percentage (83.6%, 97/116). Hartnett also finished 16th in assists (74, 2.6/game) and 19th in points per game (11.7).

Peyton Kelderman earned a fourth-place finish in 3-point field goals per game (2.0) after draining 57 three pointers last season.

Paityn Rau finished 14th in the conference in blocks per game (0.7).

Kelsey Fields finished 19th overall in rebounds per game (3.9).

The women's team finished second overall in scoring defense in the MIAA allowing 56.7 points per game. They finished behind Nebraska-Kearney who allowed 56.5 points per game.
 
RETURNING SCORING
The Bearcats return four of their top five scorers from last season including sophomore Molly Hartnett (11.7 points/game), sophomore Peyton Kelderman (8.6 ppg), sophomore Evelyn Vazquez (5.1 ppg), and junior Paityn Rau (4.8 ppg).