Thursday, Jan. 2 | 5:30 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 3 Fort Hays State | Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN | TICKETS

Saturday, Jan. 4 | 1:30 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs.   Nebraska-Kearney | Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Arena
WATCH | LIVE STATS | LISTEN | TICKETS

The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team aims to end a four-game skid with back-to-back home games at Bearcat Arena. The Bearcats will host No. 3 Fort Hays State on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 5:30 p.m., followed by Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1:30 p.m.

CATCH THE ACTION
Both games will be available on the MIAA Network, as live stats will be available on bearcatsports.com, and radio will be broadcasted on KXCV (90.5 FM).

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State (11-0, 2-0 MIAA) makes its way to Bearcat Arena, ranked No. 3 in the latest WBCA Division II poll and undefeated on the season. The Tigers recently secured two victories in Hawaii over Truman State (77-57) and Quincy (73-60). With an 11-0 start, Fort Hays State is enjoying its second-best start in program history. The last time FHSU suffered a regular-season loss was at Central Missouri (79-64) on Feb. 17, 2024.  

The Tigers boast a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging double digits. Graduate forward Olivia Hollenbeck leads with 16.9 points per game and 6.7 rebounds, along with team-highs in steals (31) and blocks (18). Graduate guard Katie Wagner-Degarmo follows with 15.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE TIGERS
The two teams' met a total of four times last season, with Northwest winning just once on Feb. 3, 2024. FHSU leads the all-time series 24-11. 

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney (9-2, 2-0 MIAA) heads into its matchup with Missouri Western riding a five-game win streak. The Lopers capped their 2024 finale with a dominant 95-26 victory over York (Neb.). Senior Samantha Moore made history with UNK's first-ever triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Bailee Sobczak, Moore, and Meg Burns lead the offense, all averaging double-digit scoring on the season.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE LOPERS
The Lopers hold a 16-8 all-time series record against the Bearcats. Northwest went 2-1 against UNK last season. 

LEAGUE-BESTS FROM KESTEN AND MAAS
Graduate guard Caely Kesten leads the MIAA in three-point shooting, boasting a 49.2% accuracy through 12 games, which also ranks fifth in Division II. True freshman forward Sadie Maas has emerged as a defensive force, averaging 1.75 blocks per game to lead the MIAA. She has recorded 21 blocks this season.

SEASON-HIGH 18 POINTS FOR HARTNETT
Graduate guard Molly Hartnett delivered a season-high 18 points in the Bearcats' recent game against Nova Southeastern. Hartnett shot 50% from the field (4-of-8) and added an impressive 10-of-13 performance from the free-throw line.

MAAS COLLECTS DOUBLE-DOUBLE VS. GRACELAND
True freshman forward Sadie Maas played a pivotal role in Northwest's win over Graceland, posting a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in a 85-54 victory.

Maas is the first freshman to record a double-double since her current teammate, Kelsey Fields, accomplished it in 2022 with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Lincoln.

DEFENSE LEADS TO W'S
The Bearcats have held opponents to just 27.7% shooting from beyond the arc, also holding opponenets to 59.1 PPG which ranks fourth in the MIAA. 

With Maas and Fields controlling the paint, Northwest records 3.8 blocks per game, ranking third in the MIAA. 

CONTROLLING THE PAINT
Kelsey Fields has grabbed 86 rebounds this season, placing her seventh across the MIAA. Offensively, Fields averages 3.2 offensive rebounds per game, ranking second in the MIAA.

KESTEN HAS THE GREEN LIGHT
Caely Kesten ranks fifth in the nation with a 49.2% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. She has made 31 three-pointers this season, ranking second in the MIAA, along with an average of 2.58 three-pointers per game.

'CATS SHOOT SEASON-BESTS VS. WILLIAM JEWELL
During its matchup with Wiliam Jewell, Northwest posted its season-best shooting percentages, hitting 51% from the field, and 52.9% from long-range. 

INAUGURAL WIN AGAINST TOP-RANKED OPPONENT IN PROGRAM HISTORY 
Northwest made history on Saturday by defeating the reigning Division II national champions and top-ranked Minnesota State, 85-67, in its final game of the Central Region WBB Showcase. This victory marked Northwest's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team in program history.

Northwest handed Minnesota State its first loss since Feb. 17, 2024, and its largest margin of defeat since Jan. 11, 2020, against Southwest Minnesota State. Northwest led for nearly 30 minutes of game time, keeping Minnesota State's only lead in the first half. 

TWO TOP FIVE VICTORIES
W, 57-49 vs. No. 5 Ashland (11/2/24)
W, 85-67 vs. No. 1 Minnesota State (11/9/24)

FIRST TOP FIVE VICTORY SINCE 2009
Northwest defeated the No. 5-ranked Ashland Eagles it its first game of the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic, 57-49, marking its first top five victory since a 88-76 win against No. 5 Emporia State in the 2009-10 season. 

SO FAR THIS SEASON...
Kesten leads the scoring for Northwest with 142 points, with Fields right behind with 127. Hartnett has provided a team-best 40 assists, accumulating 102 points (8.5 PPG)

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. 

HARTNETT IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Totaling 1,537 career points, Hartnett needs two points to become Northwest's second all-time leading scorer. 

Northwest Career Points
1. Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 2,121
2. Danae Wagner, 1989-92 - 1,538
3. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 1,537
4. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 1,511
5. Diane Kloewer, 1981-84 - 1,489
6. Denise Sump, 1997-2000 - 1,471
7. Laura Friederich, 2003-06 - 1,449
8. Tanya Meyer, 2014-18 - 1,446
9. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 1,445
10. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 1,411

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

Northwest's 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. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. 365
7 Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 320
8. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 302
9. Shelly Jermain, 1991-94 - 298
10. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 287

FIELDS CRACKS TOP 5 IN CAREER REBOUNDS
Kelsey Fields sits at No. 3 in career rebounds, pulling down 747 boards in her Bearcat career. 

1. Julie Chadwick, 1978-81 - 1,006 
2. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 763
3. Kelsey Fields, 2021-pres. 747
4. Patty Painter, 1978-81 - 733
5. Kelly Leintz, 1985-88 - 710
6. Danae Wagner, 1989-92 - 706
7. Jodi Giles, 1979-82 - 702
8. Denise Sump, 1997-2000 - 694
    Tanya Meyer, 2014-18 - 694
9. Diane Kloewer, 1981-84 - 686

THREE-POINT DUO
Caely Kesten and Peyton Kelderman have both entered Northwest's top 10 career three-pointers 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. Peyton Kelderman (2021-pres.)    149
6. Caely Kesten (2020-pres.)    148
7. Brooke Hogue (2002-04)    143
8. Mallory McAndrews (2015-19)    139
9. Tanya Meyer (2014-18)    132
10. Katie O'Grady, (2004-07)    125

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.

50 BELOW = W
Under Meyer, Northwest boasts an impressive 20-1 record when limiting opponents to under 50 points. Last season, the Bearcats successfully held six opponents below that threshold, along with No. 5 Ashland and MSU Moorhead 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)
W, 54-47 vs. MSU Moorhead (11/8/24)

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 berth. 

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 a 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 (2023-24 Season)
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 - 70
Caely Kesten - 35
Peyton Kelderman - 28
Kelsey Fields - 25
Lindsey Kelderman - 21
Evelyn Vazquez - 7
Laini Joseph - 6
Ella Moody - 3
Sadie Maas - 1
Emree Zars - 1
Aaliyah Riley - 1

CAREER 20-POINT SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 18
Caely Kesten - 6
Kelsey Fields - 2
Lindsey Kelderman - 1
Peyton Kelderman - 1

ACTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES LIST
Senior Kelsey Fields has tallied 13 double-doubles in her Bearcat career, as Molly Hartnett has four. 

Kelsey Fields - 12
Molly Hartnett - 4
Sadie Maas - 1

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)
- Nov. 19, 2024 - 18
- Nov. 26, 2024 - 15
- Dec. 3, 2024 - 9
- Dec. 10, 2024 - RV
- Dec. 17, 2024 - RV

20-WIN SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010-11
Last year, 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)

2024-25 WBCA NCAA Top 25 Coaches' Poll
1. Grand Valley State (19)
2. Texas Woman's (2)
3. Fort Hays State
4. Bentley
5. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1)
6. Montana State Billings
7. North Georgia (1)
8. Azusa Pacific
9. Gannon
10. Minnesota State Mankato
11. Seton Hill
12. Tampa
13. Union, TN
14. Pittsburg State
15. Carson-Newman
16. Concordia-St. Paul
17. Cal Poly Pomona
18. Texas-Tyler
19. Ashland
20. Lubbock Christian
21. Embry-Riddle
22. Nova Southeastern
23. Coker
24. Belmont Abbey
25. Southwest Minnesota State
# - Number of First-Place Votes

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

D2CSC CENTRAL REGION POLL
Rank            School      (First-Place Votes) 
1.                  Fort Hays State        (5)
2.                  Pittsburg State         (1)                          
3.                  Concordia-St. Paul         
4.                  Minnesota State
5.                  Arkansas-Fort Smith
6.                  Southwest Minnesota State
7.                  Oklahoma Baptist
8.                   Harding
9.                  Nebraska-Kearney
10.                Northwest Missouri State

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.