Saturday, Jan. 13 |1:30 P.M.| St. Joseph, Mo. | MWSU Fieldhouse
Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western 
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NORTHWEST AT MISSOURI WESTERN
Missouri Western controls the all-time series 45-32 with a 28-10 home record. The last time these two teams matched up was on Feb. 18, 2023 in St. Joseph with Missouri Western coming away with the 75-59 win. Northwest has dropped three straight games against the Griffons. 

The last time Northwest won in St. Joseph dates back to Dec. 2, 2020. 

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is seventh in the latest MIAA standings. The Griffons are coming off of a loss to Northeastern State 74-58. Missouri Western put up a record number of 147 points against Kansas Christian back on Dec. 30. 

Balanced scoring attacks from four different players control the offense for the Griffons. 

Connie Clarke - 11.5 PPG
Brionna Budgetts - 8.9 PPG
Jayme Jackson - 8.5 PPG
Tiani Ellison - 8.5 PPG

As a team, the Griffons score 77.7 PPG which ranks second in the MIAA, while only giving up 59.6 PPG on defense. With this, Missouri Western's scoring margin also ranks second in the conference. 

2023-24 MIAA TEAM STANDINGS
T1. Northwest Missouri State (12-2 overall, 6-2 MIAA)
       Fort Hays State (12-2 overall, 6-2 MIAA)
       Nebraska Kearney  (12-2 overall, 6-2 MIAA)
4. Pittsburg State  (11-2 overall, 5-2 MIAA)
    Washburn (10-3 overall, 5-2 MIAA)
    Missouri Southern (9-4 overall, 5-2 MIAA)
7. Missouri Western (10-4 overall, 5-3 MIAA)
8. Central Missouri (10-3 overall, 4-3 MIAA)
    Emporia State (7-6 overall, 4-3 MIAA)
10. Northeastern State (6-7 overall, 2-5 MIAA)
11. Rogers State (6-7 overall, 1-6 MIAA)
      Lincoln (5-8 overall, 1-6 MIAA)
13. Central Oklahoma (2-12 overall, 1-7 MIAA)
     Newman (2-12 overall, 1-7 MIAA)
 
SEASON STATISTICS
Molly Hartnett leads the Bearcats in points (181), points per-game (12.9), and assists (44). Hartnett shoots 88.9 percent from the free throw line, which ranks third in the MIAA, and 22nd nationally. Molly has also knocked down 48 free throws in the season, which ranks fifth in the MIAA. 

Jayna Green ranks third in the MIAA in blocks with 24 on the season. 

IMPORTANCE OF FREE THROWS
Northwest ranks second in the MIAA in free throw percentage, converting on 75.7 percent on the season. The Bearcats make 13.57 free throws per game which ranks eighth in the MIAA. 

NOT SO MANY TURNOVERS
Northwest ranks first in the MIAA in turnovers, only giving up 11 per game. The Bearcats rank fifth in the nation in the category with Regis (Colo.) sitting first in the nation with 10.5 per game. 

Northwest sits second in the MIAA in the turnover margin (4.36), just behind Missouri Western (8.3). 

KELDERMAN THREE BALL
Lindsey and Peyton Kelderman have been magnificent from beyond the arc. Peyton Kelderman has bumped up to eighth all-time in Bearcat history in three-pointers in her career, passing up Ashleigh Nelson and Katie O'Grady. 

Lindsey Kelderman is inching towards the Top 10 leaderboard in three-pointers made with 88 in her career. Kelderman also ranks sixth in the MIAA in made shots behind the arc with 27 on the season. 

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. Peyton Kelderman (2021-pres.)    128
9. Katie O'Grady, (2004-07)    125
10. Ashleigh Nelson (2011-2014)    121
11. Lauren Williams (2015-08)    106

'CATS RECEIVING VOTES IN WBCA TOP 25 POLL
Northwest Missouri State is receiving votes in the latest WBCA polls. The Bearcats received 13 total votes and has received votes for the third time this season. 

Northwest WBB Div. II Top 25 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)
- Dec. 12, 2023 - RV (12)
- Jan. 2, 2024 - RV (13)
- Jan. 9, 2024 - RV (15)

D2CSC CENTRAL REGION POLL 
1. Southern Nazarene (60)
T2. Pittsburg State (42)
T2. Harding (42)
T4. Northwest Missouri State (39)
T4. Fort Hays State (39)
6. Northwestern Oklahoma State (29)
7. Central Missouri (21)
8. Minnesota State (20)
9. Missouri Southern (19)
10. Nebraska Kearney (7)

RV: Northern State (5), Concordia- St. Paul (4), Southwest Minnesota State (3)

BEARCATS RANKED NO. 23 IN LATEST D2CSC POLL
The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team is ranked No. 23 in Week 7 of the D2CSC poll. 

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