Saturday, March 9 | Kansas City, Mo. | Municipal Auditorium
Northwest Missouri State vs Fort Hays State | 2:15 p.m.
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'CATS ADVANCE TO MIAA SEMIFINAL
The No. 2-seeded Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (23-6) will face the No. 3-seeded Fort Hays State Tigers (23-6) on Saturday at 2:15 p.m., in the semifinal round of the 2024 MIAA Tournament.

2024 Women's Basketball Championship Schedule:
Wednesday, March 6 - First Round
Women's Game 1 - No. 8 Northeastern State vs. No. 9 Emporia State - 12:00 p.m.
Women's Game 2 - No. 7 Nebraska Kearney vs. No. 10 Washburn - 2:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 7 - Quarterfinals Day 1
Women's Game 3 - No. 1 Missouri Western vs. Winner of Game 1. - 12:00 p.m.
Women's Game 4 - No. 2 Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 7-seed Nebraska Kearney. (WIN)

Friday, March 8 - Quarterfinals Day 2
Women's Game 5 - No. 4 Missouri Southern vs. No. 5 Pittsburg State - 12:00 p.m.
Women's Game 6 - No. 3 Fort Hays State vs. No. 6 Central Missouri - 2:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 - Semifinals
Women's Game 7 - No. 1 Missouri Western vs. No. 5 Pittsburg State - 12:00 p.m.
Women's Game 8 - Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 3 Fort Hays State OR - 2:15 p.m.

Sunday, March 10 - Championships
Women's Game 9 - Women's Championship - 1:00 p.m.

2024 MIAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SEEDS
1. Missouri Western
2. Northwest Missouri State
3. Fort Hays State
4. Missouri Southern*
5. Pittsburg State
6. Central Missouri*
7. Nebraska Kearney*
8. Northeastern State*
9. Emporia State*
10. Washburn*

*Eliminated from MIAA Tournament


NORTHWEST RECORD BY SEED
No. 1: 3-0        No. 8: 1-3
No. 2: 1-1        No. 9: 1-1
No. 3: 5-5        No. 10: 1-1
No. 4: 2-3         No. 11: 0-0
No. 5: 4-1        No. 12: 0-1
No. 6: 0-5
No. 7: 0-4

THE LAST TIME...
Last year, the Bearcats were tabbed the No. 8 seed and took on the Newman University Jets. Northwest came out with a 70-54 victory against the Jets, before falling to the University of Nebraska Kearney Lopers, 65-43 in the quarterfinal round. 

OPPONENT RECORDS AT MIAA TOURNEY
Northwest has a 18-25 all-time record at the MIAA Tournament championships. 

UCM: 1-7        PSU: 2-0
UCO: 1-1        RSU: 0-0
ESU: 2-2        WU: 2-4
FHSU: 0-0        *FM: 5-5
LU: 0-0
MSSU: 3-2
MWSU: 0-1
UNK: 1-2
NU: 1-0
NSU: 0-1

*Indicate Former Members

NORTHWEST RECORD AGAINST EACH SEED
vs. No. 1: 2-8
vs. No. 2: 2-9
vs. No. 3: 2-6
vs. No. 4: 2-0
vs. No. 5: 3-1
vs. No. 6: 2-0
vs. No. 7: 2-0
vs. No. 8: 2-0
vs. No. 9: 1-1
vs. No. 10: 0-0
vs. No.11: 0-0
vs. No. 12: 0-0

HISTORY AT THE MIAA TOURNAMENT
The Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team has made 28 total appearances with an overall record of 18-25. The Bearcats have a 8-12 record in the quarterfinal round of the tournament, with a 4-9 record in the semifinal and a 3-1 record in the championship game. 

NORTHWEST VS FORT HAYS STATE
The two teams have split the regular season series with Northwest coming out with the most recent victory, 69-55, inside Bearcat Arena. Laini Joseph led the way for the 'Cats with 16 points and seven rebounds. Right behind Joseph was Lindsey Kelderman with 15 points. Northwest held Fort Hays to 40.4% from the field, causing 13 turnovers. 

Fort Hays State won its quarterfinal match up with Central Missouri in a nail-biter, 65-63. 

SEASON STATISTICS
Senior Forward Jayna Green has swatted away 51 shots this season, bringing her career total to 189. Green is averaging 7.4 PPG along with five rebounds per game. 

Northwest's Blocked shots in a Career
1. Jayna Green, 2019-pres. - 191
2. Sarah Vollertsen, 2002-04 - 122
3. Shelby Mustain, 2014-16 - 107
4. Maggie Marnin, 2011-15 - 100
5. Gentry Dietz, 2009-11 - 99
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

HARTNETT CLIMBS RECORD BOARD
With nine points against Nebraska Kearney, Junior guard Molly Hartnett has passed up Mandi Schumacher (2005-08) in career points with 1,414 points in her Bearcat career. 

GREEN REJECTS SEVEN SHOTS AT WASHBURN
Senior Forward Jayna Green blocked a career-high seven shots in a 62-50 win at Washburn. With Green's defensive performance, she is tied for No. 3 in Bearcat history for blocks in a single game. Green's seven blocks is tied for ninth-most by a player this season in NCAA Div. II women's basketball. 

Northwest's Blocks in a Game
1. - Kyla Roehrig vs. Truman (3/4/11) - 9
2. - Sarah Vollertsen vs. Rockhurst (12/17/03) - 8
3. - Kyla Roehrig vs. Fort Hays (12/18/10) - 7
Shelby Mustain vs. Univ. of Saint Mary (12/18/13) - 7
Jayna Green vs. Washburn (2/10/24) - 7
5. - Gentry Dietz vs. Nebraska-Omaha (12/12/09) - 6
Kyla Roehrig vs. Central Oklahoma (3/4/11) - 6
7. - Jenna Wolfe vs. Missouri Southern (2/8/03) - 5
Sarah Vollertsen vs. Missouri Western (2/25/04) - 5
Gentry Dietz vs. Fort Hays State (1/30/10) - 5
Gentry Dietz vs. Pittsburg State (12/30/09) - 5
Gentry Dietz vs. Metro State (11/28/09) - 5
Maggie Marnin vs. SAC-W (11/24/11) - 5
Maggie Marnin at Central Oklahoma (01/19/13) - 5
Jayna Green vs. Rogers State (01/06/20) - 5
Jayna Green vs. Central Missouri (1/29/22) - 5
Jayna Green vs. Central Missouri (1/19/23) - 5

Green also reaches the top 10 in program history with 134 steals in her career. 

Northwest Steals in a Career
1. Sandy (Cummings) Nelson, 1987-90 - 406
2. Pam Cummings, 1994-97 - 327
3. Kelli Nelson, 2005-08 - 262
4. Lisa Kenkel, 1988-91 - 219
5. Kim Scamman, 1982-85 - 215
6. Janet Clark, 1985-88 - 204
7. Monica Booth, 1980-83 - 160
8. Diane Kloewer, 1981-84 - 145
9. Jayna Green, 2019-pres. - 134
10. Tember Schechinger, 2013-16 - 127
Meghan Brue, 2004-09 - 127

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. Tanya Meyer, 2014-18 - 1,446
8. Marla Sapp, 1982-85 - 1,445
9. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 1,414
10. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 1,411

Hartnett has passed Tanya Meyer in career free-throw percentage (84.7) to move up to No. 2 in Bearcat history. Hartnett has converted on 88.5 percent on her free-throws this season. 

Northwest's Career FT%
1. Kendey Eaton, 2018-20 - 91.2
2. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 84.9
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 also moved up a spot to No. 7 in career assists with 315. Hartnett leads the Bearcats this season with 12.9 PPG and has dished out 91 assists.

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

GREEN CLIMBS SEASON BLOCKS RECORD BOARD
Senior forward Jayna Green has accumulated 51 blocks this season, which sits No. 4 all-time in Bearcat history. Gentry Dietz (2010) sits at No. 2 with 57 blocks in a season. Sitting at the top of the leader board is Kyla Roehrig (2011) at 99. 

Junior Guard Peyton Kelderman remains at No. 6 in program history in career three-pointers (141). This season, Kelderman is averaging 4.8 points per game, while knocking down 37 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.)    141
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
11. Lauren Williams (2015-08)    106

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TANDEM AGAINST UCO
Molly Hartnett and Jayna Green recorded their fourth career double-doubles, respectively, in a 77-72 win over Central Oklahoma on Thursday. Hartnett piled up 16 points and 11 assists, while Green put up 18 points and 10 rebounds. Hartnett and Green post the 'Cats first pair of double-doubles in a single game since Tanya Meyer and Maria Dentlinger recorded double-double performances against Lincoln on Feb. 2, 2017. 

20-WIN SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010-11
The Bearcats reach the 20-win mark for the ninth time in program history and the first since the 2010-11 season, with a Senior Day win on Saturday (Feb. 17) against Northeastern State University, 72-54. 

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

SECOND-MOST MIAA WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Northwest's 15 conference wins this 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.

2003-04
WBB - 24-7; MBB - 29-5

1983-84 
WBB - 25-5; MBB - 24-7

MIAA TEAM STATISTICS
 The Bearcats rank No. 8 in scoring offense, averaging 67.6 points per game. On the other side of the ball, Northwest ranks No. 3 giving up 59.4 points per game. 

 Northwest sits at the No. 7 spot in team field goal percentage, averaging 40.7 percent. The Bearcats hold opponents to 38.9 percent, ranking No. 8 in the MIAA.

 Efficient from the charity stripe, Northwest sits at No. 6 in the MIAA in team free-throw percentage (72.5 percent). 

 The Bearcats rank No. 5 in the MIAA in the turnover margin (2.28). 

 With Jayna Green leading the charge for the Bearcats, Northwest ranks No. 6 in blocked shots, averaging 3.3 per game. 

Dialed in from deep, Northwest ranks No. 3 in the MIAA with seven made three-point shots per game. 

KESTEN ROLLING
Junior guard Caely Kesten has put together one of her best seasons with the Bearcat basketball program. Kesten has piled up 347 total points this season, averaging a career-best 12.4 points per game, steals (23), blocks (8), assists (41), rebounds (99), and overall minutes played (766). Kesten scored a career-high 24 points against Missouri Western on Jan. 13. 

TOP FIVE SCORERS THIS SEASON
Molly Hartnett - 12.8 PPG
Caely Kesten - 12.4 PPG
Lindsey Kelderman - 7.6 PPG
Jayna Green - 7.5 PPG
Kesley Fields - 7.4 PPG

DOUBLE-DIGIT PERFORMANCES THIS SEASON
Molly Hartnett - 18
Caely Kesten - 18
Lindsey Kelderman - 12
Kelsey Fields - 8
Laini Joseph - 6
Jayna Green - 5
Peyton Kelderman - 5
Emma Atwood - 5
Evelyn Vasquez - 1

DOUBLE-DOUBLES THIS SEASON
Molly Hartnett - 3
Kelsey Fields - 3
Jayna Green - 2

FOUR OUT OF SIX 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 four-out-of-six times in his tenure. Meyer has accumulated a record of 2-3 all-time record.

This year with Northwest earning the No. 2 seed, will be the highest seed that Northwest has gotten during the Meyer era. 

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. She joins Janet Clark (2,121 & 320) and Marla Sapp (1,445 & 302). 

GREEN HEATING UP
In Northwest's last two games (Central Oklahoma/Missouri Southern), Jayna Green has put up 18 points in each of those games, including a double-double versus Central Oklahoma. Along the double-double at Central Oklahoma, Green hit a season high 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. 

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. 

Northwest notched its second ranked win this season against No. 15 Fort Hays State. The Bearcats' win against the Tiger's gives Head Coach Austin Meyer his second overall win against a ranked opponent. 

Northwest held Rogers State to 12 first-half points on Feb. 15, which is the lowest first-half allowed since giving up 11 vs McKendree on Dec. 15, 2021. 

ENDING REGULAR SEASON HOT
Northwest finished off the regular season winning eight out of its last ten games. Only losses come from Nebraska Kearney (Feb. 1) and the No. 21-ranked Missouri Western Griffons. 

The Bearcats wrapped up its regular season on the road at Missouri Southern, shooting a season-best 59.1 percent from the field, the best under the Meyer era. Northwest is 16-0 this season when shooting better than the opponent. 

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)
- Feb. 20, 2024 - RV (6)

NCAA DIV. II CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS (Feb. 28)
1. Southern Nazarene
2. Missouri Western
3. Fort Hays State
4. Missouri Southern
5. Harding
6. Minnesota State
7. Pittsburg State
8. Northwest Missouri State
9. Central Missouri
10. Northwestern Oklahoma State

PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY AT THE PALMS
Northwest Head Coach Austin Meyer will be available each Tuesday from Noon - 2 p.m. for a press conference at the Palms.