Thursday, Feb. 2
Northwest Missouri State vs. Emporia State
5:30 p.m. | Bearcat Arena
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Saturday, Feb. 4
Northwest Missouri State vs. Washburn
1:30 p.m. | Bearcat Arena
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The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team looks to get back in the win column after two heartbreaking defeats last week. Northwest came up one point short in contests against No. 13 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
 
The Bearcats return home as they play host to the Emporia State Hornets and the Washburn Ichabods.
 
Northwest is 10-10 overall and 5-9 in league play.
 
Emporia has an overall record of 11-10 and a conference record of 6-9.
 
Washburn comes into this week's matchups with a 9-10 overall record and a 5-8 MIAA record.
 
About Northwest
In 20 games played this season, Northwest is averaging 61.5 points per game. Northwest has the sixth best defense in the conference as its opponents average 60.8 points per game. The Bearcats are shooting 40.4% from the field, 32.5% from beyond the arc, and 68.8% from the free throw line.
 
In Northwest's last six games the team is 3-3, but three total points could be the difference between the team potentially being 6-0 during that stretch. In the six games, Northwest is averaging 65.3 points per game, the team is shooting 44.7% from the field and 32.1% from three. In the three losses, two came against ranked opponents and all three losses were by just one point:
No. 5 Central Missouri – L, 68-67
No. 13 Nebraska-Kearney – L, 66-65
Fort Hays – L, 50-49
 
About Emporia State
Emporia State holds a 45-16 advantage over Northwest, however the Bearcats have won two of the last three meetings. Northwest played at Emporia earlier this season where they fell short, 64-56.
 
The Bearcats won both meetings during the 2021-22 season. Northwest defeated the Hornets by 16 in the first meeting of the season and 12 in the second meeting.
ESU is 11-10 overall and 6-9 in MIAA play. Emporia was on an eight game losing streak before capturing two wins last weekend against Northeastern State and Rogers State.
 
The Hornets are averaging 68.0 points per contest while giving up 66.3 points per contest.
 
Emporia has the MIAA's scoring leader as Tre'Zure Jobe averages 21.1 points per game. Jobe ranks No. 8 in Div. II in scoring.
 
About Washburn
Washburn has a 60-12 all-time advantage over Northwest. Northwest won the most recent matchup in a 58-53 overtime victory in Bearcat Arena Feb. 19, 2022.
 
The Ichabods are 9-10 overall and 5-8 in conference play heading into the matchups this week. Washburn will play Missouri Western before heading to Maryville.
 
Washburn has the second-best defense in the MIAA giving up just 56.2 points per game. WU is last in the league in offense putting up only 55.7 points per game.
The Ichabods have one player averaging double figure scoring this season. Aubrey Dewey leads the team with 10.3 ppg.
 
HARTNETT STAYING STRONG OFFENSIVELY
Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett is averaging 13.9 ppg so far this season. This is the third straight season Hartnett has averaged double figures in the scoring column. Hartnett scored a season high 24 points against Northeastern State.
 
She ranks No. 4 in Div. II in free throw percentage and No. 20 in the country across all divisions at 91.5%. Hartnett is No. 1 in the MIAA in free throw percentage as she has made 65-of-71 attempts.
 
Hartnett has handed out a team-high 62 assists on the year. She has dished out five or more assists in five games so far this season.
 
LINDSEY IS LIGHTING IT UP
Redshirt freshman Lindsey Kelderman has made her way into the starting lineup. Since Kelderman got her first start, she is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc in those games (13-for-27). She has made at least one three-pointer in nine of Northwest's last 11 games.
 
She made a career-high five threes in a win at Newman Jan. 14.
 
 POST EFFICIENCY FROM EIMAN
In Northwest's last six games, Lauren Eiman is shooting 65.0% from the field making 13-of-20 shot attempts. Eiman went 6-for-7 at Newman where she had a career-high 12 points.
 
FIELDS SETTING CAREER-HIGHS
Kelsey Fields had a career-high 16 boards in Northwest's game against Lincoln Jan. 21. In that game, she also had a career-high 20 points.
 
The last time a Northwest player had a 20 point 15 rebound game was Tanya Meyer back in the 2017-18 season. Meyer had 21 points and 18 rebounds against Henderson State Nov. 11, 2017.
 
 PK FOR THREE
Sophomore guard Peyton Kelderman has knocked in at least one three-pointer in 13 of Northwest's 20 games this season.
 
VAZQUEZ RACKING UP STEALS
Sophomore guard Evelyn Vazquez had 26 steals during the 2021-22 season. Vazquez has 35 steals so far this season. Vazquez had a season-high seven steals in a 75-61 win against Peru State Nov. 27, 2022.
 
She ranks No. 5 in the MIAA in steals as she averages 2.3 per game.
 
 FIELDS ON THE GLASS
So far this season, Kelsey Fields has grabbed 185 rebounds. She is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game. Fields needs 66 more to make it in the Northwest record book for rebounds in a season. With 8 guaranteed games left in the season before the MIAA tournament, Fields needs to average 8.3 rebounds in those contests to make it on that list.
 
 GREEN TIES SEASON HIGH IN O-BOARDS
Jayna Green tied her season-high for offensive rebounds in a season with 29. Green had 29 during the 2020-21 season and recorded her 29th offensive board last weekend grabbing one at Fort Hays.
 
 ATWOOD RETURNS/LINDSEY GETS THE START
Before Emma Atwood returned to the court or Lindsey Kelderman came into the starting lineup, Northwest was 7-7 overall and 2-6 in conference action. The Bearcats were averaging 59.8 points per game, shooting 38.8% from the field, and shooting 30.1% from three.
 
 Since Atwood's return and Lindsey's first start which came on the same day, the Bearcats are 3-3, averaging 65.3 points per game, the team is shooting 44.7% from the field and 32.1% from three. In the three losses, two came against ranked opponents and all three losses were by just one point, (No. 5 Central Missouri...68-67, No. 13 Nebraska-Kearney...66-65, Fort Hays...50-49).

In Atwood's first game back against UCO she recorded a career-high 11 rebounds and led the team with four assists, two steals, and a block. It was Lindsey Kelderman's first start, and she also had a career-high night with 14 points while going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. Northwest defeated UCO, 72-68.
 
 MILESTONE WATCH
Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett has recorded 906 points in her collegiate career. Hartnett needs 94 more points to reach the 1,000 point mark at Northwest.
 
 NORTHWEST IN MIAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Rebounding:
Kelsey Fields ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in rebounding. Fields averages 9.3 rebounds per game and leads the conference with 67 offensive rebounds.
Free Throws:
Molly Hartnett ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in free-throw percentage (91.5%), draining 65-of-71 attempts.
Three-pointers:
Peyton Kelderman is No. 13 in three-pointers made per game (1.7).
Steals:
Evelyn Vazquez is No. 5 in the MIAA in steals with 2.3 per
game and 35 total steals.
Blocks:
Jayna Green ranks No. 6 in blocks with 1.3 per game.
Assists:
Molly Hartnett is No. 7 in assist to turnover ratio (1.8) and
T-No. 13 in assists with 3.1 per game.
 
 KELDERMAN CLOSES IN ON 3-POINT CHART
Sophomore shooting guard Peyton Kelderman has drained 90 three-pointers so far in her Bearcat career. Kelderman had 57 made three's last season and has 33 makes so far this season. She needs just 16 more to tie her for tenth place on the career record list.
 
 Northwest's Three-Pointers in a Career
1. Jaelyn Haggard (2017-21) 256
2. Kelli Nelson (2005-08) 202
3. Shelly Martin (2008-10) 170
4. Laura Friederich (2003-06) 163
5. Brooke Hogue (2002-04) 143
6. Mallory McAndrews (2015-19) 139
7. Tanya Meyer (2014-18) 132
8. Katie O'Grady, (2004-07) 125
9. Ashleigh Nelson (2011-2014) 121
 
TOP FIVE SCORERS THIS SEASON
Molly Hartnett - 12.9 ppg
Kelsey Fields - 8.0 ppg
Evelyn Vazquez - 6.9 ppg
Ella Moody - 6.9 ppg
Peyton Kelderman - 6.6 ppg
 
 Double-Digit Scoring Performances This Season
Molly Hartnett – 14
Peyton Kelderman – 6
Kelsey Fields – 5
Evelyn Vazquez – 4
Jayna Green – 2
Lindsey Kelderman - 2
Ella Moody - 2
Jillian Fleming – 1
Emma Atwood – 1
Lauren Gillig - 1
Lauren Eiman - 1
Caely Kesten – 1
 
 Career Double-Digit Scoring Performances
Molly Hartnett - 45
Peyton Kelderman - 19
Paityn Rau - 13
Jayna Green - 9
Kelsey Fields - 7
Evelyn Vazquez - 6
Jillian Fleming - 5
Emma Atwood - 4
Lindsey Kelderman - 2
Ella Moody - 2
Caely Kesten - 2
Lauren Eiman - 1
Lauren Gillig – 1
 
 GREEN SETS CAREER BLOCK RECORD AT NORTHWEST
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 blocked 43 shots last season, which was good for the No. 3 spot in the MIAA. In Northwest's game at Newman Jan. 14, Green recorded her 123rd career block to make her the all-time block leader in school history.
 
 Blocked Shots in a Career
1. Jayna Green, 2019-pres – 131
2. Sarah Vollertsen, 2002-04 – 122
3. Shelby Mustain, 2014-16 - 107
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
 
 Northwest's Top Returning Scorers
Molly Hartnett - 906 pts.
Jayna Green - 472 pts.
Peyton Kelderman - 375 pts.
Paityn Rau - 308 pts.
Kelsey Fields - 288 pts.
Evelyn Vazquez - 253 pts.
Jillian Fleming - 246 pts.
Caely Kesten - 220 pts.
Emma Atwood - 161 pts.
 
 MIAA Women's Basketball Standings

1. Central Missouri (13-1)
2. Nebraska-Kearney (13-2)
3. Pittsburg State (12-3)
4. Missouri Western (12-3)
5. Missouri Southern (11-4)
6. Fort Hays State (11-4)
7. Emporia State (6-9)
8. Washburn (5-8)
9. Northwest Missouri (5-9)
10. Central Oklahoma (4-11)
11. Newman (3-11)
12. Lincoln (3-11)
13. Northeastern State (2-13)
14. Rogers State (2-13)