Central Region WBB Showcase - Friday, Nov. 8 & Saturday, Nov. 9
Northwest Missouri State vs. MSU Moorhead | 2:45 p.m.
St. Joseph, Mo. | Civic Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN

Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 1 Minnesota State |2:45 p.m.
St. Joseph, Mo. | Civic Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN

BEARCATS RETURN TO CIVIC ARENA FOR CENTRAL REGION WBB SHOWCASE
The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team returns to Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo., for the Central Region WBB Showcase on Friday and Saturday. Northwest will face MSU Moorhead at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, followed by a matchup against top-ranked Minnesota State at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday.

OFFICIAL GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, November 8
12:30 PM – No. 23 Fort Hays State vs. Augustana
2:45 PM – Northwest Missouri State vs. MSU Moorhead
5:15 PM – Emporia State vs. No. 1 Minnesota State
7:30 PM – RV Missouri Western vs. Sioux Falls

Saturday, November 9
12:30 PM – No. 23 Fort Hays State vs. MSU Moorhead
2:45 PM – Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 1 Minnesota State
5:15 PM – Emporia State vs. Sioux Falls
7:30 PM – RV Missouri Western vs. Augustana

CATCH THE ACTION
All games will be streamed on themiaanetwork.com.

Tickets will be facilitated through the Civic Arena Box Office, or purchased online at stjomosports.hometownticketing.com. 

NORTHWEST VS. MSU MOORHEAD  
The Dragons will open their season against the Bearcats on Friday. Last year, MSU Moorhead posted a 13-16 record and exited in the NSIC quarterfinals against Minnesota State. MSUM was ranked sixth in the NSIC preseason poll, with 2023-24 All-NSIC First Team guard Natalie Jens highlighted as a 'player to watch' this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE DRAGONS  
Northwest and MSUM have only faced each other once, in 1996, with the Dragons coming out with 65-59 win in OT. 

NORTHWEST VS. MINNESOTA STATE  
Defending Division II National Champion Minnesota State starts its season this weekend, beginning with a matchup against MIAA opponent Emporia State. Senior guard Destinee Bursch is the Mavericks' 'player to watch' this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE MAVERICKS
MSU and Northwest have met once before in their series, with the Mavericks claiming a 71-46 victory on November 19, 2022, during the FHSU Tournament.

FIRST TOP FIVE VICTORY SINCE 2009
Northwest achieved a 57-49 victory over the No. 5-ranked Ashland Eagles in its opening game of the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic last weekend, marking its first top-five win since an 88-76 victory against No. 5 Emporia State in the 2009-10 season. The Bearcats aim to secure their first-ever victory over a top-ranked team against Minnesota State on Saturday.  

FIELDS EARNS 11TH DOUBLE-DOUBLE VS. NO. 5 ASHLAND  
Senior forward Kelsey Fields posted 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory over No. 5 Ashland, marking her 11th career double-double.  

STRONG START FROM ZARS
Junior transfer Emree Zars ranks as Northwest's second-leading scorer, averaging 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game across two contests.

MEYER AND COMPANY IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
With Meyer at the helm, the Bearcats have produced a 17-11 overall record at neutral site games. 

SO FAR THIS SEASON...
Kesten leads the scoring for Northwest with 21 points, averaging 10.5 PPG through two contests. Kesten also leads the Bearcats with six three-pointers at a 43 percent clip, and swiping six steals. 

Fields has secured 16 boards, including her 11th career double-double vs. No. 5 Ashland. 

HARTNETT, KESTEN RETURN FOR FINAL SEASON
Graduate student's Molly Hartnett and Caely Kesten return for their final seasons with the Bearcat women's basketball program. Hartnett led the Bearcats in scoring last season with 389 points, as Kesten was the second-leading scorer with 382. 

Totaling 1,448 career points, Hartnett has passed up Tanya Meyer (2014-18) to move up to seventh all-time in Bearcat history. 

Northwest Career Points
1. Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 2,121
2. Danae Wagner, 1989-92 - 1,538
3. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 1,511
4. Diane Kloewer, 1981-84 - 1,489
5. Denise Sump, 1997-2000 - 1,471
6. Laura Friederich, 2003-06 - 1,449
7. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 1,448
8. Tanya Meyer, 2014-18 - 1,446
9. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 1,445
10. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 1,411

Hartnett has also passed Tanya Meyer in career free-throw percentage (84.6) to rank No. 2 in Bearcat history. 

Northwest's Career FT%
1. Kendey Eaton, 2018-20 - 91.2
2. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 84.6
3. Tanya Meyer, 2015-18 - 84.4
4. Jaelyn Haggard, 2017-21 - 82.8
5. Tember Schechinger, 2013-16 - 82.1
6. Kim Scamman, 1980-84 - 80.9
7. Meridee Scott, 2010-14 - 80.7
8. Abby Henry, 2009-12 - 78.9
9. Jessica Burton, 2005-09 - 77.3
10. Lauren Williams, 2005-08 - 77.2
11. Marla Sapp, 1981-85 - 76.6
Hartnett has dished out 328 assists to rank sixth in Northwest's career assists list. 

Northwest's Assist's 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. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. 328
7 Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 320
8. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 302
9. Shelly Jermain, 1991-94 - 298
10. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 287

BEARCATS WELCOME EIGHT NEWCOMERS TO 2024-25 SQUAD
Northwest added seven freshmen and one transfer to the 2024-25 roster.

Freshmen
- Guard | #1 Brooklyn Stanley | Sioux City, Iowa
- Guard | # 12 Aliyah Al-Hameed | Waukee, Iowa
- Guard | #22 Aaliyah Riley | Des Moines, Iowa
- Guard | #23 Kenzie Melcher | Omaha, Neb. 
- Forward | #32 Sadie Maas | Waukee, Iowa
- Forward | #33 Avery Yosten | Norfolk, Neb, 
- Forward | #34 Maggie Collins | Conception, Mo. 

Transfer
- Forward | #14 Emree Zars | Shawnee, Kan. 

ADDITION OF COACH TUCKER
Head coach Austin Meyer announced the addition of assistant coach Daryle Tucker to the Bearcat staff in June. Tucker previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. Before that, he served as the head men's basketball coach at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont, for three seasons, and later at Northland College.

Tucker replaces former Bearcat assistant coach Chris Guess, who accepted a position as an assistant coach at the University of South Dakota.

KELDERMAN FOR THREE
Senior Guard Peyton Kelderman remains at No. 6 in program history in career three-pointers (142). Last season, Kelderman averaged 4.5 points per game, while knocking down 38 three-point shots. 

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. Peyton Kelderman (2021-pres.)    142
7. Mallory McAndrews (2015-19)    139
8. Tanya Meyer (2014-18)    132
9. Katie O'Grady, (2004-07)    125
10. Ashleigh Nelson (2011-2014)    121

SHARPSHOOTING 'CATS
Northwest ranked No. 3 in the MIAA in three-pointers made last season with 6.8 per contest. The Bearcats also put up the fourth-most three-point attempts at 21.6 per game. 

FIELDS CRACKS TOP 10 IN CAREER REBOUNDS
Senior Kelsey Fields has surpassed Jayna Green (2019-24) for the No. 10 spot on Northwest's all-time career rebounds list with 677. 

Northwest's Career Rebounds
1. Julie Chadwick, 1978-81 - 1,006
2. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 763
3. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 733
4. Kelly Leintz, 1985-88 - 710
5. Danae Wagner, 1989-92 - 706
6. Jodi Giles, 1979-82 - 702
7. Denise Sump, 1997-2000 - 694
    Tanya Meyer, 2014-18 - 694
9. Diane Kloewer, 1981-84 - 686
10. Kelsey Fields, 2021-pres. 677

DEFENSIVE MINDED
The Bearcats were third in the MIAA last season in scoring defense (59.4), which sat No. 51 across Division II. 

50 BELOW = W
Under Meyer, Northwest boasts an impressive 19-1 record when limiting opponents to under 50 points. Last season, the Bearcats successfully held six opponents below that threshold, along with No. 5 Ashland this season. 

W, 71-47 vs. William Woods (11/25/23)
W, 55-48 (OT) vs. Emporia State (12/16/23)
W, 63-42 at Rogers State (1/6/24)
W, 79-49 vs. Newman (1/20/24)
W, 62-50 at Washburn (2/10/24)
W, 59-41 vs. Rogers State (2/15/24)
W, 57-49 vs. No 5 Ashland (11/2/24)2

SECOND-MOST MIAA WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Northwest's 16 conference wins last season rank as the second-most in program history, only bested by the 2010-11 team that went 18-4 and won the regular season MIAA crown and finishing with a Final-four birth. 

FIVE OUT OF SEVEN SEASONS FOR MEYER
Head Coach Austin Meyer took the reigns of the Bearcat program during the 2018-19 season and has been to the MIAA Championships five-out-of-seven times in his tenure. Meyer has accumulated a record of 3-4 all-time record.

Last season, Northwest earned the No. 2 seed at the MIAA Championships, which is the highest seed that Northwest has gotten during the Meyer era.

MEYER TAKES BEARCATS TO NCAA TOURNEY FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2011
During the remarkable 2023-24 season, head coach Austin Meyer brought the Bearcats to their first NCAA Div. II Tournament appearance since 2011. 

Northwest's NCAA Tournament Games
2024 - Fort Hays State 62, Northwest 47

2011 - Northwest 92, Texas Women's 73
           Northwest 77, Tarleton State 61
           Northwest 82, Central Oklahoma 70
           Northwest 78, Cal Poly Pomona 65
           Michigan Tech 89, Northwest 78

2008 - Northwest 72, West Texas A&M 71 (OT)
           Emporia State 83, Northwest 71

2004 - Washburn 65, Northwest 64

2007 - West Texas A&M 87, Northwest 72
2004 - Washburn 65, Northwest 64
1990 - West Texas A&M 62, Northwest 48

1984 - Northwest 81, Lewis 63
           Dayton 97, Northwest 69

TOP FIVE RETURNING SCORERS
Molly Hartnett - 12.5 PPG
Caely Kesten - 12.3 PPG
Lindsey Kelderman - 7.7 PPG
Kesley Fields - 7.7 PPG
Laini Joseph - 7.3 PPG

CAREER DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 67
Caely Kesten - 30
Peyton Kelderman - 27
Kelsey Fields - 18
Lindsey Kelderman - 17
Evelyn Vazquez - 7
Laini Joseph - 6
Ella Moody - 2

CAREER 20-POINT SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 18
Caely Kesten - 4
Kelsey Fields - 2
Lindsey Kelderman - 1
Peyton Kelderman - 1

ACTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES LIST
Senior Kelsey Fields has tallied 11 double-doubles in her Bearcat career, as Molly Hartnett has four. 

Kelsey Fields - 11
Molly Hartnett - 4

MIAA TEAM STATISTICS
 Last season, the Bearcats averaged 66.3 points per game. On the other side of the ball, Northwest held opponents to 59.4 points per game. Northwest shot 72.4 percent from the free-throw line.

HARTNETT BECOMES THIRD BEARCAT IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH 1,400pts/300ast
Adding on to Hartnett's career at Northwest,  she became just the third player in Bearcat history to reach the 1,400 points/300ast mark during last years' campaign. She joins Janet Clark (2,121 & 320) and Marla Sapp (1,445 & 302). 

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 30, 2004 - 20
- *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)
- Feb. 20, 2024 - RV (6)

20-WIN SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010-11
The Bearcats achieved the 20-win milestone for the ninth time in program history, marking their first such season since 2010-11.

1974-75 (21-7)            2003-04 (24-7)
1975-76 (20-8)            2010-11 (29-5)
1977-78 (20-8)            2023-24 (23-8)
1979-80 (20-11)
1983-84 (25-5)
1989-90 (20-10)

TABBED THIRD IN MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
Following a 23-win season--fourth-most in program history-- and its first NCAA Division II tournament appearance since 2011, the Bearcats were picked to finish third in the MIAA for teh 2024-25 season, in both the coaches' and media polls. 

The Bearcats earned two first-place votes from MIAA coaches and one vote from the media. 

2024-25 MIAA Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Pittsburg State (10) - 164 points
2. Fort Hays State (2) - 152 points
3. Northwest Missouri State (2) - 142 points
4. Missouri Southern - 137 points
5. Central Missouri - 124 points
6. Nebraska Kearney - 97 points
7. Missouri Western - 89 points
8. Emporia State - 86 points
9. Northeastern State - 80 points
10. Washburn - 68 points
11. Central Oklahoma - 50 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith - 39 points
13. Rogers State - 29 points
14. Newman - 17 points
(#) - Number of First-Place Votes

Coaches Are Not Allowed To Vote For Their Own Team

2024-25 MIAA Women's Preseason Media Poll
1. Fort Hays State (9) - 246 points
2. Pittsburg State (5) - 231 points
3. Northwest Missouri State (1) - 225 points
4. Missouri Southern (1) - 206 points
5. Missouri Western (2) - 192 points
6. Central Missouri (1) - 174 points
7. Emporia State - 139 points
8. Nebraska Kearney - 129 points
9. Washburn - 107 points
10. Northeastern State - 101 points
11. Central Oklahoma - 84 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith - 74 points
13. Rogers State - 66 points
14. Newman - 21 points
(#) - Number of First-Place Votes

TUESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE AT PIZZA RANCH
Northwest Head Coach Austin Meyer will be available each Tuesday from Noon - 2 p.m. for a press conference at your local Maryville Pizza Ranch. 

2024-25 WBCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll
1. Minnesota State Mankato (20)
2. Texas Woman's (1)
3. Grand Valley State (2)
4. Tampa
5. Ashland
6. Montana State Billings
7. Fairmont State
8. Union, TN
9. Bentley
10. Fayetteville State
11. Gannon
12. Thomas Jefferson
13. Pittsburg State
14. Carson-Newman
15. Ferris State
16. Nova Southeastern
17. Georgia Southwestern
18. Azusa Pacific
19. Cal Poly Pomona
20. Assumption
21. Colorado Mesa
22. Southern Nazarene
23. Fort Hays State
24. Columbus State
25. Valdosta State

(#) - Number of First-Place Votes

D2CSC CENTRAL REGION POLL
1. Minnesota state
2. Pittsburg State
3. Fort Hays State
4. Southern Nazarene
5. Harding
6. Northwest Missouri State
T7. Concordia-St. Paul
      Northern State
9. Missouri Western 
10. Missouri Southern