Wednesday, Dec. 13
Northwest Missouri State vs. Washburn | 5:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS | WATCH | RADIO

Saturday, Dec. 16
Northwest Missouri State vs. Emporia State | 1:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS | WATCH | RADIO

NORTHWEST VS WASHBURN
Washburn leads the all-time series against the Bearcats, 13-61. Last year, the Bearcats took the 'bods to two overtime games. On Feb. 4, North- west came out with the 76-75 win at Bearcat Arena. Washburn then took the 62-59 overtime win in Topeka.

SCOUTING THE 'BODS
Washburn is coming off a win against Rogers State, 56-44. Washburn leads the MIAA in three- point percentage (37.5 percent), yet only shot two-of-19 against the Hillcats.

Washburn has four players averaging double-figures on the season; Yiibari Nwidadah (13.1 PPG), Aubree Dewey (13.0 PPG), Aniah Wayne (11.0 PPG), and Gabi Giovannetti (11.0 PPG).

NORTHWEST VS EMPORIA STATE
Emporia State controls the all-time series (16- 47). Last match up coming on Feb. 2, 2023 was a Hornet victory in Bearcat Arena, 52-42. Northwest has only beaten Emporia State eight times at home.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State comes in Saturday's contest on a four-game win streak. Emporia State's last win came against Northeastern State on Dec. 9, 63- 57.

The Hornets have three players averaging double-figures; Faith Paramore (13.8 PPG), Queen Ulabo (11.3 PPG), and Tyleea Wallace (10.9 PPG).

Emporia State is averaging 68.9 PPG, yet only giving up 62.1 PPG on defense.

2023-24 MIAA TEAM STANDINGS
1. Central Missouri (8-0 overall, 3-0 MIAA)
2. Emporia State (5-3 overall, 3-0 MIAA)
3. Northwest Missouri State (8-1 overall, 3-1 MIAA)
4. Pittsburg State (8-1 overall, 3-1 MIAA)
5. Fort Hays State (7-1 overall, 3-1 MIAA)
6. Nebraska-Kearney (8-2 overall, 2-2 MIAA)
7. Washburn (6-2 overall, 1-1 MIAA)
8. Missouri Western (6-3 overall, 2-2 MIAA)
9. Lincoln (4-4 overall, 1-2 MIAA)
10. Northeastern State (4-4 overall, 1-2 MIAA)
11. Central Oklahoma (2-8 overall, 1-3 MIAA)
12. Rogers State (4-5 overall, 0-4 MIAA)
13. Newman (1-9 overall, 0-4 MIAA)

DEFENSE IS KEY
This season, Northwest has held opponents to 63.5 PPG which ranks ninth in the MIAA. Northwest has recorded 36 blocked shots (3.6 per game) which stands third in the MIAA, 67th in the nation.

SEASON STATISTICS
Northwest sits second in the MIAA in free-throw percentage (76.2 percent) which ranks 45th nationally. Molly Hartnett is still getting to the charity stripe often as she leads the MIAA in free-throw percentage (90.6 percent), which puts her 26th in the nation.

The Bearcats are shooting 34.2 percent from be- yond the arc which sits fifth in the MIAA and 54th in the nation. Lindsey Kelderman is leading the conference in three-point percentage (55.6 per- cent), which is currently sixth in the nation. Along with Kelderman's success beyond the arc, as a team Northwest is making 7.1 three's a game, which sits second in the MIAA, 62nd nationally.

Kelsey Fields is pulling down 3.9 offensive boards a game which puts her third in the MIAA, 28th in the nation.

KESTEN ON A TEAR
Caely Kesten is putting together one of her best seasons here at Northwest. Kesten is averaging 10.3 PPG, 3.8 rebounds, and has dished out 14 assists so far this season. Kesten has also been a menace on the defensive end with nine steals.

In the match up with Nebraska-Kearney, Kesten led the way with a new career-high 22 points on nine-of-14 shooting, four-of-seven from three-point range.

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
BEARCATS PEGGED FOR 6TH, 7TH IN PRE- SEASON MIAA POLLS
Northwest has been pegged to finish sixth (media) and seventh (coaches) in the MIAA's preseason polls.
Head Coach Austin Meyer is entering his sixth season as the Bearcat women's basketball program. Meyer has helped guide the Bearcats to consecutive berths in to the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals.

PRESEASON WBB COACHES POLL
1. Central Missouri (11) - 167 points
2. Missouri Western (3) - 153 points
3. Pittsburg State - 147 points
4. Fort Hays State - 131 points
5. Missouri Southern -116 points
6. Nebraska-Kearney - 111 points
7. Northwest Missouri - 100 points
8. Washburn - 76 points
T9. Central Oklahoma - 72 points
T9. Emporia State - 72 points
11. Northeastern State - 45 points
12. Lincoln - 41 points
13. Rogers State - 25 points
14. Newman - 18 points

PRESEASON WBB MEDIA POLL
1. Central Missouri (14) - 283 points
2. Missouri Western (3) - 266 points
3. Pittsburg State (1) - 245 points
4. Fort Hays State - 219 points
5. Nebraska-Kearney (3) - 218 points
6. Northwest Missouri - 191 points
7. Missouri Southern - 186 points
8. Emporia State - 149 points
9. Central Oklahoma - 132 points
10. Washburn - 114 points
11. Newman - 71 points
12. Lincoln - 62 points
13. Northeastern State - 53 points
14. Rogers State - 31 points


BEARCATS SIGN SIX RECRUITS TO 2024-25 CLASS

- Aliyah Al-Hameed         G          5-6       Waukee, Iowa/Waukee Northwest HS
- Maggie Collins           F          6-0       Barnard, Mo./Platte Valley HS
- Sadie Maas                 F          6-1       Waukee, Iowa/Waukee Northwest HS
- Kenzie Melcher         G         5-11     Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West HS
- Brooklyn Stanley         G         5-11     Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan HS
- Aaliyah Riley               G         5-7       Johnston, Iowa/Johnston HS

'CATS RECEIVING VOTES IN WBCA POLL
Last week, the 'Cats were receiving votes in the WBCA Div. II Top 25 poll for the first time season the 2011-12 season. That season, the Bearcats were pre- season ranked 15th. The Bearcats have been ranked 16 total times in program history.
- Jan. 25, 1998 - RV (9)
- Feb. 1, 1998 - RV (5)
- Dec. 9, 2003 - RV (8)
- Dec. 16, 2003 - RV (4)
- Jan. 6, 2004 - RV (6)
- Jan. 13, 2004 - RV (17)
- Jan. 20, 2004 - RV (34)
- *Jan. 28, 2004 - 22
- *Feb. 3, 2004 - 17
- *Feb. 10, 2004 - 19
- *Feb. 17, 2004 - 17
- *Feb. 24, 2004 - 21
- *March 15, 2004 - 18
- *March 30, 2004 - 20
- Nov. 10, 2004 - RV (70)
- Dec. 7, 2004 - RV (4)
- Feb. 8, 2005 - RV (5)
- April 1, 2008 - RV (1) -
Nov. 5, 2008 - RV (1)
- Nov. 25, 2008 - RV (1)
- Nov. 30, 2010 - RV (3)
- Dec. 7, 2010 - RV (2)
- Dec. 14, 2010 - RV (4)
- Jan. 4, 2011 - RV (1)
- Jan. 11, 2011 - RV (7)
- Jan. 18, 2011 - RV (19)
- *Jan. 25, 2011 - T23
- *Feb. 1, 2011 - 24
- *Feb. 8, 2011 - 22
- *Feb. 15, 2011 - 20
- *Feb. 22, 2011 - 18
-* March 1, 2011 - 22
- *March 8, 2011 - 19
- *March 29, 2011 - 4
- *Nov. 1, 2011 - 15
- Nov. 22, 2011 - RV (22)
- Dec. 13, 2011 - RV (12)
- Dec. 5, 2023 - RV (13)

*Next ranking will come out on Dec. 12, 2023.

D2CSC CENTRAL REGION POLL
Northwest is ranked fourth in this weeks D2CSC Central Region poll.

1. Central Missouri (60)
2. Southern Nazarene (54)
3. Pittsburg State (45)
4. Northwest Missouri State (37) 5. Fort Hays State (34)
6. Minnesota Duluth (31)
7. Northwestern Oklahoma St. (21) 8. Harding (20)
9. Concordia-St. Paul (11)
10. Northern State (8)
RV: Nebraska Kearney (5), Missouri Western (3), Minnesota State (1).