Saturday, Feb. 18
Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western
1:30 p.m. | MWSU Fieldhouse
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The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team prepares to take on Missouri Western in St. Joseph Saturday, Feb. 18. The Bearcats look to bounce back after an overtime loss at Washburn Tuesday night.
 
Northwest enters the contest with a record of 13-12 overall and 8-11 in the MIAA.
 
Missouri Western has an overall record of 22-5 and a conference record of 16-3.
 
About Northwest
In 25 games played this season, Northwest is averaging 61.4 points per game. Northwest has the fifth best defense in the conference as its opponents average 60.0 points per game. The Bearcats are shooting 39.0% from the field, 31.5% from beyond the arc, and 71.4% from the free throw line.
 
About Missouri Western
Missouri Western holds a 44-32 advantage over Northwest in the all-time series. The Griffons defeated the Bearcats 55-37 in the meeting earlier this season in Maryville. Northwest held MWSU to its season low in scoring and has only been held to that mark one other time since then, which game in a loss at Nebraska-Kearney Jan. 28.
 
Missouri Western has a 22-5 overall record and is currently second in the MIAA with a record of 16-3. The Griffons are on a four game win streak and have the third best offense in the conference averaging 74.6 points per game.
 
Missouri Western has just one home loss this season coming against Nebraska-Kearney Dec. 8 by a score of 68-65.
 
MWSU has two of the top-10 leading scorers in the MIAA with Brionna Budgetts in third at 17.8 points per game and Connie Clarke in eighth at 14.7 points per game.
 
LAST WEEK
The Bearcats are coming off a week where they secured two road wins in Oklahoma. Northwest faced off against Rogers State Thursday night where the offense was slow getting going. The Bearcats were down 14 points early in the third quarter but managed to fight back and end up with a 61-50 victory.
 
Saturday the team had a matchup with Northeastern State. The 'Cats outscored the RiverHawks in every quarter and cruised to a 68-46 win.

HARTNETT STAYING STRONG OFFENSIVELY
Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett is averaging 13.4 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 T-No. 11 in Div. II in free throw percentage at 90.6%. Hartnett is No. 1 in the MIAA in free throw percentage as she has made 87-of-96 attempts.
 
Hartnett has handed out a team-high 76 assists on the year. She has dished out five or more assists in six games so far this season. She surpassed 200 assists in the win at RSU Feb. 9.
 
POST EFFICIENCY FROM EIMAN
In the last nine games Lauren Eiman has played in, she is shooting 62.9% from the field making 17-of-27 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 18 boards in Northwest's game against Northeastern State Feb. 11.
 
On Jan. 21 when Northwest played Lincoln, Fields had 20 points and 16 rebounds. 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 17 of Northwest's 25 games this season. She has sank a team-best 44 three-pointers and is shooting 35.8% from beyond the arc. Kelderman is No. 12 in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (1.8).
 
Kelderman tied her career-high in three-pointers made in a game with five against Northeastern State Feb. 11.
 
VAZQUEZ RACKING UP STEALS
Sophomore guard Evelyn Vazquez had 26 steals during the 2021-22 season. Vazquez has 39 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. 6 in the MIAA in steals as she averages 2.1 per game.
 
FIELDS ON THE GLASS
So far this season, Kelsey Fields has grabbed 239 rebounds. She is averaging 9.5 rebounds per game. Fields needs 12 more to make it in the Northwest record book for rebounds in a season (251 ties her for 10th).
 
GREEN SETS SEASON HIGH IN O-BOARDS
Jayna Green has set a new personal season-high for offensive rebounds in a season with 42. Green had 29 during the 2020-21 season.
 
ATWOOD GETTING GOING
Emma Atwood has posted 10 or more points in two of the last four games for the Bearcats. Atwood is averaging 7.8 points in those games and has gone 13-for-14 from the free throw line as well. She is 9-of-17 from the field the past three games for 52.9%.
 
KESTEN ON OFFENSE
In the last six games for Northwest, Caely Kesten is averaging 8.8 points. Kesten had a career-high 16 points at Washburn Feb. 14. She is shooting 38.2% from three (21-for-55).
 
MILESTONE WATCH
Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett has recorded 983 points in her collegiate career. Hartnett needs 17 more points to reach the 1,000 point mark at Northwest.
 
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.
 
In the first six games after Atwood returned and Lindsey got her first start, which came on the same day, the Bearcats went 3-3, averaged 65.3 points per game, the team shot 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.
 
TOP FIVE SCORERS THIS SEASON
Molly Hartnett - 13.4 ppg
Kelsey Fields - 7.7 ppg
Peyton Kelderman - 6.9 ppg
Ella Moody - 6.1 ppg
Evelyn Vazquez - 6.1 ppg
 
NORTHWEST IN MIAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Rebounding:
Kelsey Fields ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in rebounding. Fields averages 9.6 rebounds per game and leads the conference with 91 offensive rebounds.
Free Throws:
Molly Hartnett ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in free-throw percentage (90.6%), draining 87-of-96 attempts.
Three-pointers:
Peyton Kelderman is No. 12 in three-pointers made per
game (1.8).
Steals:
Evelyn Vazquez is No. 5 in the MIAA in steals with 2.1 per
game and 36 total steals.
Blocks:
Jayna Green ranks No. 6 in blocks with 1.2 per game.
Assists:
Molly Hartnett is No. 7 in assist to turnover ratio (1.7) and
No. 13 in assists with 3.0 per game.
 
 
Double-Digit Scoring Performances This Season
Molly Hartnett – 18
Peyton Kelderman – 9
Kelsey Fields – 6
Evelyn Vazquez – 4
Emma Atwood – 3
Caely Kesten - 3
Jayna Green – 2
Lindsey Kelderman - 2
Ella Moody - 2
Jillian Fleming – 1
Lauren Gillig - 1
Lauren Eiman - 1
 
Career Double-Digit Scoring Performances
Molly Hartnett - 49
Peyton Kelderman - 22
Paityn Rau - 13
Jayna Green - 9
Kelsey Fields - 8
Evelyn Vazquez - 6
Emma Atwood - 6
Jillian Fleming - 5
Caely Kesten - 4
Lindsey Kelderman - 2
Ella Moody - 2
Lauren Eiman - 1
Lauren Gillig - 1
 
Career 20-point Scoring Performances
Molly Hartnett - 11
Jayna Green - 1
Kelsey Fields – 1
 
KELDERMAN CLOSES IN ON 3-POINT CHART
Sophomore shooting guard Peyton Kelderman has drained 101 three-pointers so far in her Bearcat career. Kelderman had 57 made three's last season and has 44 makes so far this season. She needs just 5 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
10. - Lauren Williams, 2005-08 – 106
 
HARTNETT NEARING CAREER ASSIST RECORD LIST
Sophomore Molly Hartnett surpassed 200 career assists in a win at Rogers State Feb. 9. Hartnett now has 209 career assists and is 45 away from tying the No. 10 spot in the record book for assists in a career at 254.
 
Assists in a Career
1. Pam Cummings, 1995-98 - 822
2. Sandy (Cummings) Nelson, 1987-90 - 598
3. Kim Scamman, 1983-86 - 554
4. Julie Schmitz, 1976-79 - 454
5. Monica Booth, 1980-83 - 378
6 Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 320
7. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 302
8. Shelly Jermain, 1991-94 - 298
9. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 287
10. Lisa Kenkel, 1990-92 – 254
 
GREEN SURPASSES 500 CAREER REBOUNDS
Jayna Green recorded her 500th career rebound at Northeastern State Feb. 11. She now has 506 career rebounds as a Bearcat.
 
GREEN SETS CAREER BLOCK RECORD AT NORTHWEST
Junior 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, 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 - 134
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
9. Lori Schneider, 1986-89 - 83
10. Danae Wagner, 1987-90 - 58
 
Northwest's Top Returning Scorers
Molly Hartnett - 983 pts.
Jayna Green - 491 pts.
Peyton Kelderman - 421 pts.
Kelsey Fields - 321 pts.
Paityn Rau - 308 pts.
Jillian Fleming - 260 pts.
Evelyn Vazquez - 259 pts.
Caely Kesten - 258 pts.
Emma Atwood - 192 pts.