Thursday, Feb. 1 | 5:30 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN | TICKETS

Saturday, Feb. 3 | 1:30 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 15 Fort Hays State
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN | TICKETS

NORTHWEST VS NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
Northwest took the road victory in Kearney earlier this season, 67-65. The Lopers still lead the all-time series, 15-7. 

During the Northwest win at Kearney, Caely Kesten recorded her new career-high in points at the time (22), later scoring 24 points against Missouri Western.

The Lopers hold a 7-3 all-time record at Bearcat Arena. The last time the Lopers played in Maryville, dates back to Dec. 10, 2022.  

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
After the Bearcats ruined the Lopers 24 home game win streak at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, the Lopers have won six out of their last nine games, including overtime wins against Central Missouri and Washburn. The Lopers are coming off two home wins against Emporia State and Washburn. 

Nebraska-Kearney comes into Thursday's contest 14-5 overall and 8-5 in the MIAA. 

The Lopers have four players averaging double-figures on the season:

Shiloh McCool - 12.9 PPG
Kia Wilson - 10.6 PPG
Meg Burns - 10.4 PPG
Jillian Aschoff - 10.2 PPG

Nebraska-Kearney ranks third in the MIAA in both scoring offense (74.2 PPG) and scoring defense (59.9 PPG). Redshirt fifth-year forward Shiloh McCool ranks second in the conference in rebounds per game (9.5) and leads in total defensive rebounds with 126. 

NORTHWEST VS FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State was ranked No. 18 when the Bearcats first match up with them this season. The Tigers came out with the 62-48 victory in Hays, Kan. Fort Hays State leads the all-time series 22-10. The last time the Tigers traveled to Maryville was on Dec. 11, 2022 with the Tigers coming out on top, 67-52. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Now, No. 15 Fort Hays State currently sits second in the MIAA with a 10-3 conference record, and an overall record of 16-3. The Tigers are on a four-game win streak with a recent victory over Emporia State, 72-63. 

The Tigers will travel to Missouri Western on Thursday before their matchup with Northwest Saturday. 

Junior guard Katie Wagner leads the charge at 16.3 ppg, which ranks fifth in the MIAA. 

Junior forward Olivia Hollenbeck is the other Tiger averaging double-figures on the season at 10.7 ppg. Hollenbeck has  recorded 28 total blocks on the season, sitting fourth in the MIAA behind Northwest's Jayna Green (30). 

2023-24 MIAA TEAM STANDINGS
Missouri Southern (15-4 overall, 11-2 MIAA)
Fort Hays State (16-3 overall, 10-3 MIAA)
Missouri Western (15-4 overall, 10-3 MIAA)
Northwest Missouri State (15-4 overall, 9-4 MIAA)
Central Missouri (14-5 overall, 8-5 MIAA)
Nebraska Kearney (14-5 overall, 8-5 MIAA)
Pittsburg State (14-5 overall, 8-5 MIAA)
Washburn (11-8 overall, 6-7 MIAA)
Emporia State (9-10 overall, 6-7 MIAA)
Northeastern State (9-10 overall, 5-8 MIAA)
Central Oklahoma (5-14 overall, 4-9 MIAA)
Rogers State (8-11 overall, 3-10 MIAA)
Lincoln (6-13 overall, 2-11 MIAA)
Newman (2-17 overall, 1-12 MIAA)

SEASON STATISTICS
The Bearcats have managed to take care of the rock this season, averaging 13.1 turnovers a game in which ranks first in the MIAA and No. 13 nationally. 

Molly Hartnett (13.3 ppg) and Caely Kesten (11.6 ppg) are the only two Bearcats averaging double-figures.

Molly Hartnett has converted on 88.8 percent on her shots at the charity stripe, placing her third in the MIAA and No. 14 in all of Div. II. 

Northwest has knocked down 126 shots behind the arc this season, averaging 6.6 a game. 

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.)    130
9. Katie O'Grady, (2004-07)    125
10. Ashleigh Nelson (2011-2014)    121
11. Lauren Williams (2015-08)    106

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 (As of Jan. 29)
The Bearcats move up a spot after being tied for ninth in the latest D2CSC Central Region Poll. 

1. Southern Nazarene (60)
2. Harding (52)
3. Missouri Southern (46)
4. Minnesota State (41)
5. Fort Hays State (39)
6. Northwestern Oklahoma State (29)
7. Missouri Western (25)
8. Northwest Missouri State (17)
9. Northern State (7)
10. Central Missouri (6)

RV: Henderson State (3), Southwest Minnesota State (2), Pittsburg State (1), Nebraska Kearney (1), Concordia St. Paul(1). 

SEASON NOTES:
With Northwest's win against No. 16-ranked Central Missouri, that win tallies the sixth time this season that the Bearcat women have trailed by eight or more points and come back to win.

Trailed 11 vs. Minnesota Crookston (1Q)
Trailed 11 vs. Nebraska Kearney (3Q)
Trailed 16 vs. Emporia State (2Q)
Trailed 8 vs. Augustana (1Q)
Trailed 9 vs. Northeastern State (3Q)
Trailed 8 vs. Central Missouri (3Q)
Against Central Missouri, the 50-point half is the third-highest scoring half of the year. Also scored 52 vs. Southwest Minnesota State and 51 vs. Minnesota Crookston.