Thursday, Dec. 7
Northwest Missouri State at Fort Hays State | 5:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Dec. 9
Northwest Missouri State at Nebraska-Kearney | 2 p.m.
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NORTHWEST AT FORT HAYS STATE
Both teams come in to Thursday's match up undefeated. Fort Hays State leads the all-time series 21-10. Dating back to last year on Jan. 28, the last match up resulted with a 60-59 Tiger victory.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is coming off of win's against Northeastern State (63-52) and Rogers State (58-44). Fort Hays defense sits second in the MIAA in scoring defense (54.0 PPG).

Katie Wagner leads the Tigers in scoring this season averaging 17.3 PPG. Olivia Hollenbeck as been a struggle for opposing teams' offenses as she is averaging 1.5 blocks a game.

NORTHWEST AT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time series 15-6. Northwest last played the Lopers on March 2, 2023 with the Lopers coming out on top, 65-43. Kearney is currently on a nine game win streak against the 'Cats.

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
The Lopers suffered their first loss at Northeastern State last Saturday (74-71). Kearney comes into Saturday's contest averaging 80.4 PPG which ranks first in the MIAA. Northwest sits behind the Lopers with 77.9 PPG. Keep an eye out of Shiloh McCool as she is averaging 14.5 points per contest. McCool recorded 23 points against Chadron State on Nov. 25.

DEFENSE IS KEY
This season, Northwest has held opponents to 63.3 PPG which ranks ninth in the MIAA. Northwest has record 26 blocked shots which stands third in the MIAA, 56th in the nation.

AROUND THE MIAA
Three lone teams sit at the top of the MIAA standings:

Central Missouri - 7-0 overall
Fort Hays State - 6-0 overall
Northwest Missouri State - 7-0 overall

All three teams are undefeated on the season, but Northwest's match up with Fort Hays State will change that. Northwest is one of 17 teams in the nation that are undefeated on the season. The Bearcats' win streak is tied for seventh longest amongst active Division II teams.

Best Starts in School History
20-0 - 1983-84
9-0 - 1978-79
8-0 - 1990-91
7-0 - 1971-72
7-0 - 1997-98
6-0 - 2023-24

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

As a team, Northwest sits third in free throw percentage (74.8), three-pointers per game (7.6), and overall scoring offense (77.9) in which ranks 20th in the nation. Northwest also sits fifth in the MIAA in field goal percentage (43.5 percent).

Northwest ranks second in the MIAA in three-point percentage (36.3), 20th in the nation.

Molly Hartnett has been tremendous getting to the line so far this season. Hartnett is shooting 90.0 percent from the charity stripe which ranks first in the MIAA, 34th nationally.

Kelsey Fields continues her rebounding tear with 60 total rebounds through seven games, ranking her fourth in the MIAA. Fields ranks third in MIAA in offensive rebounds per game (4.1).

Jayna Green ranks third in the MIAA in blocked shots with nine on the season.

Lindsey Kelderman converts on 2.57 three-pointers a game to rank her second in the MIAA and 47th nationally. Kelderman also sits second in the nation in three-point percentage (64.3), which leads the MIAA.

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
10. Peyton Kelderman (2021-pres.)    116
11. Lauren Williams (2015-08)    106

1997-98 TEAM COMPARISONS
Since the Bearcats started this season off 7-0 since the 1997-98 season, let's take a look back to what they accomplished that year.

The '98 squad rode a seven game win stretch that was eventually ended by Rockhurst (55-76). Bearcats ended the regular season 18-8 heading into the MIAA Tournament. Southwest Baptist took the 92-75 win in the first round of the tournament to end the Bearcats season. 

BEARCATS PEGGED FOR 6TH, 7TH IN PRESEASON 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