Thursday, Jan. 1 | 5:30 p.m. (CT) | Gross Memorial Coliseum | Hays, Kan.
Northwest Missouri State at No. 6 Fort Hays State
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Saturday, Jan. 3 | 2 p.m. (CT) | Health & Sports Center | Kearney, Neb.
Northwest Missouri State at Nebraska-Kearney
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THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball squad (9-3 overall, 2-0 MIAA) returns to MIAA play to ring in 2026 with road trips to No. 6 Fort Hays State (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and to Nebraska-Kearney (Saturday, 2 p.m.).

ALL-TIME VS FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State holds a 26-11 edge in the all-time series. FHSU has won 14 of the last 15 matchups with Northwest.
    The Bearcats are 2-14 at Gross Memorial Coliseum with their last win coming Dec. 30, 2006 in a 70-62 win over the Tigers.
    Head coach Austin Meyer is 1-13 vs. FHSU.

ALL-TIME VS UNK LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney owns an 18-8 lead in the all-time series. UNK swept the season series last year after Northwest had won two of three matchups in 2023-24.
    Head coach Austin Meyer is 3-12 vs. UNK.

EIGHT-GAME WIN STREAK
Northwest's eight-game winning streak ranks tied for the 12th-best active win streak among NCAA Div. II women's basketball teams.  It ranks as the top streak in the MIAA.
    Northwest's eight-game winning streak is the longest in program history since the Bearcats had an 11-game win streak in the 2010-11 season.    
    The Bearcats won 11 consecutive games in the 2010-11 season (Dec. 8, 2010 - Jan. 26, 2011).
    The school record for consecutive wins is 20 in a row to begin the 1983-84 season (Nov. 18, 1983 - Feb. 1, 1984).

Northwest's Eight-Game Win Streak
Northwest 90, Buena Vista 63 (12/17/25)
Northwest 73, Baker 36 (12/15/25)
Northwest 66, Rockhurst 53 (11/19/25)
Northwest 61, Lincoln 50 (11/22/25)
Northwest 70, William Jewell 44 (11/25/25)
Northwest 69, Graceland 52 (11/30/25)
Northwest 62, Missouri Western 48 (12/2/25)
Northwest 77, Emporia St. 70 OT (12/4/25)

NCAA Div. II Active Win Streaks
1. Grand Valley State     23
2. Minnesota State    13
3. Nova Southeastern    12
4. Gannon        11
    West Texas A&M    11
6. Indiana, Pa.        10
    Colorado Mesa        10
    Winston-Salem        10
9. Florida Southern    9
    Eckerd            9
    Alabama-Huntsville    9
12. Northwest Mo. St.    8
    Northwestern Okla. St.    8
    Texas Woman's     8
    Cal Poly Pomona    8
    Minnesota-Duluth    8
    Felician        8

MIAA REGULAR SEASON WIN STREAK
The Bearcat women have won four consecutive MIAA regular season games dating back to the 2024-25 season.
    Northwest closed the 2024-25 MIAA season with home wins over Newman and Emporia. The Bearcats opened 2025-26 league play with victories over Missouri Western and Emporia State.

MIAA'S TOP FG DEFENSE
Northwest owns the league's top field goal defense at 34.4%. Northwest ranks No. 20 in the nation in field percentage defense.
    Emporia State was the first team to shoot better than 40.0% from the floor against the Bearcats this season.

Bearcat FG Defense % (Game-By-Game)
Adams State - 36.4%
West Texas A&M - 39.6%
Sioux Falls - 35.1%
Wayne State - 30.0%
Rockhurst - 30.6%
Lincoln - 30.8%
William Jewell - 35.6%
Graceland - 32.1%
Missouri Western - 29.1%
Emporia State - 45.5%
Baker - 26.4%
Buena Vista - 42.1%

LIMITING THE OPPOSITION
Northwest ranks No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 22 in the nation in scoring defense by allowing 54.2 points per game.
    Northwest has limited eight of its opponents to less than 60 points scored.

60+ = WINNING NUMBER
Northwest is 9-0 this season when scoring 60 or more points.

REBOUNDING MARGIN
Northwest ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in rebound margin (+7.6). Northwest put up a +30 rebound margin (62-32) in its 73-36 win over Baker.
    Northwest's 62 rebounds ranks as the fourth-highest single-game MIAA total this year.

LOPREATO TOPS SQUAD IN SCORING
Junior Andrea Lopreato leads the Bearcats in scoring and ranks No. 7 in the MIAA at 14.8 points per game.
    Lopreato dropped a Bearcat single-game scoring record of 40 points in a 75-64 win over Sioux Falls (Nov. 14) at Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
    Lopreato tops the squad in steals (23) and free throws made (48). Lopreato was credited with a career-high six steals in Northwest's 90-63 win over Buena Vista.

FROM DOWNTOWN
Freshman Bailey Birmingham ranks second in the MIAA in three-pointers made (28). She ranks No. 2 in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.394).
    Birmingham has made at least one three-pointers in 10 of the 11 games she has played. She has made two more three-pointers in eight contests.
    She ranks No. 2 in the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game.

MIAA 3-Point FGs Made Leaders
1. Malgorzata Byczkowska (Neb.-Kearney)    31
2. Bailey Birmingham (Northwest Mo. St.)    28
3. Grace Gilpin (Emporia St.)        27
4. Myleigh Weers (Neb.-Kearney)        25
5. Ellie Stearns (Fort Hays State)        23
    Lindsey Kelderman (Missouri Western)    23

MIAA 3-Point FG Percentage Leaders
1. Lindsey Kelderman (Missouri Western)    .479
2. Bailey Birmingham (Northwest Mo. St.)    .394
3. Delaney Roller (Missouri Southern)    .373
4. Malgorzata Byczkowska (Neb.-Kearney)    .360
5. Ellie Stearns (Fort Hays State)        .359

MAAS SWATS SHOTS, GRABS BOARDS
Sophomore Sadie Maas is Northwest's top shot blocker (22) and rebounder (7.8 rpg).
    Maas ranks No. 20 in the nation and No. 2 in the MIAA in blocked shots (22). She ranks fourth in the MIAA in total rebounds (93).
    Maas put up a career-high 13-rebound effort against Wayne State. Maas possesses seven career 10-plus rebound performances as a Bearcat, including five this season. Maas has garnered three consecutive double-figure rebound games with 12 vs. Missouri Western, 10 vs. Emporia State and 10 vs. Baker.
    Maas has collected 70 career blocked shots to rank No. 10 on Northwest's all-time blocked shots list. Maas has blocked at least one shot in 33 games as a collegiate player.

Northwest Blocked Shots (Career)
1. Jayna Green (2019-24)        195
2. Sarah Vollertsen (2002-04)    122
3. Shelby ustain (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. Sadie Maas (2024-pr.)        70

WAND SCORES CAREER-HIGH & WORKS THE GLASS TOO
Freshman Boston Wand recorded a career-high 16 points vs. Baker.
    Wand ranks No. 13 in the MIAA in rebounds (72). Wand has produced a pair of 10-rebound games (Lincoln, William Jewell).
    Wand is averaging 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

MIAA Rebound Leaders
1. Kaycee McCumber (Pittsburg St.)        105
2. Taylor Weishaar (Central Missouri)        96
3. Talexa Weeter (Fort Hays St.)        95
4. Sadie Maas (Northwest Mo. St.)        93
5. Harper Schreiner (Pittsburg State)        90
6. Jerney Bennett (Central Oklahoma)    89
    Nakiya Harris (Missouri Western)        89
8. Reese Schaaf (Central Missouri)        86
9. Ashlyn Alloway (Missouri Southern)    85
10. Jillian Aschoff (Nebraska-Kearney)    80
11. Samantha Shanks (Rogers State)        75
12. Macey Gandee (Emporia State)        73
13. Boston Wand (Northwest Mo. St.)    72

YOSTEN PUTS ON A PERFORMANCE
Redshirt freshman Avery Yosten has scored in double figures in four consecutive games including back-to-back 16-point career-high scoring efforts against Baker and Buena Vista.
    Against Baker, Yosten put up 16 points and career-highs in rebounds (8) and blocked shots (2).
    Yosten is averaging 7.5 points per game.

HAUCK FINDS THE SHOOTING ZONE
Sophomore Kirsten Hauck has buried 14 of her last 29 shots from three-point land over the last six games.
    She began the season shooting 3-for-18 from beyond the three-point arce in her first six games.
    Hauck has knocked in 17 three-pointers and his averaging 7.6 points per contest.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES COMING IN BUNCHES
Northwest produced three double-doubles in its first two MIAA games vs. Missouri Western and Emporia State.
    Sadie Maas produced back-to-back double-doubles with 12 points and 12 rebounds at Missouri Western and 14 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime win over Emporia State.
    Andrea Lopreato collected her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds vs. Emporia State.

Career Double-Doubles
Emree Zars - 6
Sadie Maas - 3
Kirsten Hauck - 1
Andrea Lopreato - 1

SCORERS OF NOTE
Redshirt freshman Avery Yosten notched her fourth consecutive double-figure scoring game with a career-high 16 points vs. Buena Vista.
    Junior Andrea Lopreato secured her ninth double-figure scoring game with 17 points vs. Buena Vista.
    Freshman guard Bailey Birmingham registered her sixth double-figure scoring game of the year with a team-high 19 points vs. Buena Vista.
    Sophomore Sadie Maas notched her sixth career double-figure scoring game with 10 points and nine rebounds vs. Buena Vista. It is the third time this season Maas has reached 10 or more points.

Career Double-Figure Scoring Games
Emree Zars - 38
Andrea Lopreato - 9
Bailey Birmingham - 6
Sadie Maas - 6
Ella Moody - 3
Kenzie Melcher - 3
Kirsten Hauck - 4
Avery Yosten - 4
Boston Wand - 3

Career 20-Point Scoring Games
Emree Zars - 8
Kirsten Hauck - 1
Andrea Lopreato - 1

Career 30-Point Scoring Games
Andrea Lopreato - 1

Career 40-Point Scoring Games
Andrea Lopreato - 1

MEYER IN OVERTIME
Head coach Austin Meyer is 7-3 in overtime games since taking over the program in 2018. Meyer and the Bearcats have won four consecutive overtime decisions.
    Northwest moved to 2-0 in MIAA play with a 77-70 overtime win over Emporia State on Dec. 4.

Bearcat Overtime Results Since 2018
W, 77-70 vs. Emporia State (12/4/25)
W, 82-76 vs. Newman (2/27/25)
W, 66-61 at Washburn (1/11/25)
W, 55-48 vs. Emporia State (12/16/23)
L, 62-59 at Washburn (2/14/23)
W, 76-75 vs. Washburn (2/4/23)
W, 58-53 vs. Washburn (2/19/22)
L, 77-76 vs. Pittsburg State (2/22/20)
W, 70-67 at Newman 2OT (1/30/20)
L, 77-69 vs. McKendree (11/30/19)

100 WINS FOR MEYER
Head coach Austin Meyer recorded his 100th career coaching victory in Northwest's Nov. 22 win over Lincoln.
    Meyer is the third Bearcat women's coach to reach 100 or more victories joining Wayne Winstead (311) and Gene Steinmeyer (189). Meyer has posted 104 career wins entering this week's action against Baker and Buena Vista.

FOUR RANKED WINS FOR COACH MEYER
Bearcat head coach Austin Meyer has recorded four wins over ranked opponents since taking over the Northwest women's basketball program in 2018.
    Northwest is 4-5 in its last nine games against ranked foes.

vs. Ranked Opponents (Austin Meyer Era)
L, 61-59 vs. #5 Pittsburg State (2/15/25)
L, 84-60 at #7 Fort Hays State (1/18/25)
L, 70-60 vs. #3 Fort Hays State (1/2/25)
W, 85-67 vs. #1 Minnesota State (11/9/25)
L, 58-41 vs. #2 Texas Woman's (11/3/24)
W, 57-49 vs. #5 Ashland (11/2/24)
L, 67-44 vs. #21 Missouri Western (2/24/24)
W, 69-55 vs. #15 Fort Hays State (2/3/24)
W, 76-68 at #16 Central Missouri (1/25/24)
L, 62-48 at #18 Fort Hays State (12/7/23)
L, 65-43 vs. #7 Nebraska-Kearney (3/2/23)
L, 66-65 at #13 Nebraska-Kearney (1/26/23)
L, 68-67 vs. #5 Central Missouri (1/19/23)
L, 77-51 vs. #22 Nebraska-Kearney (12/10/22)
L, 52-37 at #5 Missouri Southern (12/1/22)
L, 69-47 vs. #6 Fort Hays State (2/26/22)
L, 68-52 at #22 Missouri Western (2/5/22)
L, 67-60 vs. #16 Nebraska-Kearney (1/15/22)
L, 63-60 at #2 Fort Hays State (1/12/22)
L, 70-47 vs. #5 Fort Hays State (1/27/21)
L, 55-51 at #17 Central Missouri (1/30/21)
L, 59-35 at #5 Nebraska-Kearney (1/16/21)
L, 58-49 vs. #21 Central Missouri (12/3/20)
L, 73-60 vs. #18 Central Missouri (2/6/20)
L, 56-45 vs. #10 Alaska-Ancorage (12/19/19)
L, 91-63 at #8 Fort Hays State (1/26/19)

DRE-LO DROPS 40, SCHOOL RECORD VS. SIOUX FALLS
Junior transfer Andrea Lopreato set the Bearcat single-game scoring record with 40 points against Sioux Falls at Civic Arena on Nov. 14.
    Lopreato became the first Bearcat women's basketball player to score 40 points in a game. It tied for the 14th-best single-game scoring mark in league history.
    Lopreato is one of six NCAA Div. II players to put up a 40-point scoring game this season.
    She also set the single-game school records for free throws made (19) and attempted (21) in the game. Lopreato set the MIAA single-game record with 19 made free throws vs. Sioux Falls.

Bearcat Single-Game Scoring Record
40, Andrea Lopreato vs. USF (11/14/25)
39, Kelly Leintz vs. Truman (2/17/88)
38, Annie Coy vs. Lincoln (1/31/98)
37, Jodi Giles vs. Nebraska (2/17/82)
37, Gentry Dietz vs. FHSU (1/30/10)
37, Kendey Eaton vs. UCM (2/13/19)
36, Janet Clark vs. UMSL (1/21/89)
35, Janet Clark vs. UCM (2/8/89)
35, Denise Sump vs. Alderson-Broaddus (12/5/98)
35, Jenna Wolfe vs. Cal St LA (12/20/02)
35, Gabby Curtis vs. Omaha (2/3/11)

Bearcat Single-Game Free Throws Made
19, Andrea Lopreato vs. USF (11/14/25)
17, Jodi Giles vs. Nebraska (1981)
17, Abby Henry vs. SBU (1/14/12)

Bearcat Single-Game Free Throws Att.
21, Andrea Lopreato vs. USF (11/14/25)
20, Abby Henry vs. SBU (1/14/12)
19, Amanda Winter vs. Truman (1/17/01)

NINE IN A ROW AT HOME
Dating back to last season, Northwest has won nine consecutive home games in Bearcat Arena.
    It is Northwest's longest home-court winning streak since an eight-game streak in the 2021-22 season.
    Northwest's longest home-court winning streak is 16 in a row set from Feb. 27, 2010 to Feb. 23, 2011.
    Northwest's nine-game home win streak ranks tied with Fort Hays State for longest active home winning streaks among MIAA schools.    
    It is tied for the 11th-longest active NCAA Div. II home-court winning streak.
    
MIAA Active Home-Court Win Streaks
Northwest Mo. St. - 9
Fort Hays State - 9
Emporia State - 6
Nebraska-Kearney - 4
Pittsburg State - 4

Northwest's Home-Court Win Streak
Northwest 82, Newman 76 (2/27/25)
Northwest 70, Emporia St. 51 (3/1/25)
Northwest 66, Rockhurst 53 (11/19/25)
Northwest 61, Lincoln 50 (11/22/25)
Northwest 70, William Jewell 44 (11/25/25)
Northwest 69, Graceland 52 (11/30/25)
Northwest 77, Emporia St. 70 OT (12/4/25)
Northwest 73, Baker 36 (12/15/25)
Northwest 90, Buena Vista (12/17/25)

NINE 20-WIN SEASONS IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Northwest has generated nine 20-win seasons in school history.

29-5 - 2010-11
25-2 - 1983-84
24-7 - 2003-04
23-8 - 2023-24
21-7 - 1974-75
20-8 - 1975-76
20-8 - 1977-78
20-11 - 1979-80
20-10 - 1989-90

FOUR CONSECUTIVE .500 OR BETTER YEARS
Northwest has produced four consecutive .500 or better seasons - the longest since a five-year stretch ending in 1990-91.

NORTHWEST IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Northwest is 6-7 in seven all-time in the NCAA Tournament six appearances.
    Northwest earned NCAA Tournament bids in 1984, 1990, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2024.

BEARCATS TABBED SIXTH BY MEDIA, EIGHTH BY COACHES
Northwest was selected to finish sixth by the media and eighth by the league coaches in the polls.

MEDIA POLL
1. Pittsburg State [13] – 326 points
2. Fort Hays State [5] – 299 points
3. Washburn [3] – 276 points
4. Central Missouri [4] – 271 points
5. Nebraska Kearney – 268 points
6. Missouri Western – 227 points
7. Northwest Missouri State – 187 points
8. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 185 points
9. Missouri Southern – 176 points
10. Emporia State – 127 points
11. Northeastern State – 111 points
12. Central Oklahoma – 92 points
13. Rogers State – 49 points
14. Newman – 31 points

COACHES POLL
1. Fort Hays State [2] – 152 points
2. Washburn [6] – 148 points
3. Pittsburg State [5] – 144 points
4. Central Missouri [1] – 138 points
5. Nebraska Kearney – 135 points
6. Missouri Western – 99 points
7. Missouri Southern – 95 points
8. Northwest Missouri State – 78 points
9. Northeastern State – 76 points
10. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 73 points
11. Emporia State – 48 points
12. Central Oklahoma – 44 points
13. Rogers State – 28 points
14. Newman – 16 points

BEARCATS IN THE WBCA TOP 25 POLL
Northwest has been in WBCA top 25 poll 20 times in program history. Northwest has risen as high as No. 4 in the poll, which game on March 29, 2011.
    Northwest was last ranked in the WBCA Top 25 at No. 9 in the Dec. 3, 2024 poll.

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