2025 MIAA Tournament | Wednesday, March 5 | 6 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Missouri Southern | Municipal Auditorium | Kansas City, Mo.
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

The No. 8-seeded Northwest Missouri State women's basketball team (15-14, 8-11 MIAA) will meet the No. 9-seeded Missouri Southern State Lions (18-13, 10-9 MIAA) in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament at 6 p.m., at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

BEARCAT GATHERINGS
Hosted by the Northwest Missouri State University Alumni Association, The Quaff Bar & Grill, 1010 Broadway St., is where Bearcat fans will gather for pre and post-game events.

On Wednesday, March 5, the gathering will be held from 4 - 5:30 p.m. prior to the women's game. Should the Bearcats advance, the gathering on Thursday, March 6, will begin at approximately 4 p.m. These events are free to Northwest fans of all ages. Complimentary chips and salsa and a cash bar will be available.  

MIAA Fans can purchase tickets at the Municipal box office or via Ticketmaster. Single-Session tickets are $25 and All-Session Tournament Passes are $85. Student Single-Session tickets will also be sold for $10. Children six and under are admitted at no charge.
 
MIAA fans not traveling to Kansas City can watch all the MIAA Madness action live, exclusively on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to single-game broadcasts for $15 or a MIAA Network Tournament Pass for $40. MIAA fans who already have a subscription to The MIAA Network will not have to pay the additional charge for tournament games. 

CATCH THE ACTION
Watch all games live, exclusively on themiaanetowrk.com. 
Live stats will be available on bearcatsports.com and radio will broadcast on KXCV-KNRW (90.5 FM).

2025 MIAA WBB CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5:
Women's Session
6 PM | No. 8 seed Northwest Missouri vs. No. 9 seed Missouri Southern
8:15 PM | No. 7 seed Central Missouri vs. No. 10 seed Emporia State

THURSDAY, MARCH 6:
Women's Session
6 PM | No. 1 seed Pittsburg State vs. Women's No. 8/9 seed
8:15 PM | No. 2 seed Fort Hays State vs. Women's No. 7/10 seed

FRIDAY, MARCH 7:
Women's Session
6 PM | No. 4 seed Nebraska Kearney vs. No. 5 seed Washburn
8:15 PM | No. 3 seed Missouri Western vs. No. 6 seed Arkansas-Fort Smith

SATURDAY, MARCH 8:
6 PM | Women's Semifinals
8:15 PM | Women's Semifinals

SUNDAY, MARCH 9:
3:30 PM | Women's Championship

2025 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SEEDING
1. Pittsburg State
2. Fort Hays State
3. Missouri Western
4. Nebraska-Kearney
5. Washburn
6. Arkansas-Fort Smith
7. Central Missouri
8. Northwest Missouri State
9. Missouri Southern
10. Emporia State

LAST TIME OUT WITH THE LIONS
The Bearcats hosted the Lions on Feb. 13, in their only meeting this season. Molly Hartnett filled the stat sheet with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists, as Caely Kesten tacked on 13 points, five boards and four assists in a 62-54 win in Maryville. For the Lions, both Ryan Franklin and Makenna Yokley scored ten, as Northwest held MSSU to 37.0% shooting from the floor and 33.3% from long-range. 

BOARDS COMING EASY FOR FIELDS
Kelsey Fields secured a career-high 21 rebounds in Northwest's 82-76 overtime win against Newman last Thursday. Fields' 21 rebounds marked the most by a Bearcat since Meghan Brue grabbed 20 on Dec. 29, 2008, and stand as the highest single-game total in the MIAA this season. Fields' performance also marks just the sixth time in program history that a Bearcat has recorded 20 or more rebounds in a game.

FIVE OUT OF SEVEN          SEASONS FOR MEYER
Head Coach Austin Meyer took over the Bearcat program in the 2018-19 season and has led the team to the MIAA Championships in five of his seven seasons. Meyer holds a career record of 3-4 in postseason play.

In the previous season, Northwest secured the No. 2 seed at the MIAA Championships—the highest seeding achieved under Meyer's leadership.

BALANCED ATTACK VS. EMPORIA STATE
In its regular season finale, Northwest used a balanced scoring-attack to defeat Emporia State, 70-51, on Senior Day at Bearcat Arena. Caely Kesten scored a team-high 12 points after being held scoreless in the first half of action. Fields notched double-doubles in back-to-back games with a 10 points and 15 rebounds. Saide Maas scored seven points, along with rejecting a career-high five shots. 

HARTNETT BREAKS THROUGH WITH 31-POINT EFFORT VS. NEWMAN
Graduate guard Molly Hartnett delivered Northwest Missouri State's first 30-plus point game since 2019, scoring a career-high 31 points - 14-of-15 from the free-throw line. 

MAAS SCORES CAREER-HIGH IN ARKANSAS
Freshman Sadie Maas scored a
career high 15 points against Arkansas-Fort Smith last Saturday. Along with the point total, Maas secured nine rebounds and blocked three shots. Maas shot an efficient 7-of-12 from the field. 

STANLEY JOINS IN ON CAREER-NIGHT VS. NEWMAN
True freshman Brooklyn Stanley scored a career-high nine points, as well as pulling down a career-best eight rebounds. 

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
The Bearcats average 11.6 turnovers per contest - the third-least in the nation and least in the MIAA. 

KESTEN HAS THE GREEN LIGHT
Caely Kesten ranks as the eighth-best three-point shooter in the nation at a 43.4% shooting percentage - leading the MIAA. Kesten has tallied the league's third-most made three-pointers with 72 this season, No. 19 in Div. II. 

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.

'CATS SHOOT LIGHTS OUT VS. UCM
Northwest shot a blistering 54.7% from the floor - new season-high - Jan. 25 matchup against Central Missouri. Along with the field goal percentage, the Bearcats converted on 42.9% from deep and only missed one free throw (11-of-12). 

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. 

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 REACHES NO.2 IN CAREER POINTS
Northwest Career Points
1. Janet Clark, 1986-89 - 2,121
2. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 1,778
3. Danae Wagner, 1989-92 - 1,538
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

MORE HARTNETT IN THE RECORD BOOKS

Northwest's Career FT%
1. Kendey Eaton, 2018-20 - 91.2
2. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. - 84.5
3. Tanya Meyer, 2015-18 - 84.4
4. Jaelyn Haggard, 2017-21 - 82.8
5. Tember Schechinger, 2013-16 - 82.1
    Caely Kesten, 2020-pres. - 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. Molly Hartnett, 2020-pres. 430
6. Monica Booth, 1980-83 - 378
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 MOVES TO NO. 2 IN CAREER REBOUNDS
Kelsey Fields stands at No. 2 in Northwest's career rebounds list, pulling down 894. 

1. Julie Chadwick, 1978-81 - 1,006 
2. Kelsey Fields, 2021-pres. 894
3. Mandi Schumacher, 2005-08 - 763
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. Caely Kesten (2020-pres.)    189
4. Shelly Martin (2008-10)    170
5. Laura Friederich (2003-06)    163
6. Peyton Kelderman (2021-pres.)    154
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

1K FOR CK
Graduate guard Caely Kesten reached the 1,000-point milestone in Northwest's 76-73 road victory over Rogers State, becoming just the 30th Bearcat to do so. Kesten leads the team with 396 points this season (14.3 PPG), bringing her career total to 1, 106. 

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 21-2 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. The Bearcats suffered just their only second loss when holding opponents under the 50-point threshold vs. UNK on Jan. 4 (L, 48-46). 

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)
W, 53-45 at. Northeastern State (2/20/25)

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE COUNTRY
The Bearcats have played a gauntlet of a schedule this season, facing six WBCA opponents inside the top 10.

TOP FIVE SCORERS (2024-25)
Caely Kesten - 14.5 PPG
Molly Hartnett - 11.8 PPG
Kelsey Fields - 9.2 PPG
Emree Zars - 6.6 PPG
Lindsey Kelderman - 6.3 PPG

CAREER DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 80
Caely Kesten - 51
Emree Zars - 38
Kelsey Fields - 31
Peyton Kelderman - 28
Lindsey Kelderman - 23
Evelyn Vazquez - 7
Laini Joseph - 6
Ella Moody - 3
Sadie Maas - 3
Aaliyah Riley - 1

CAREER 20-POINT SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 22
Emree Zars - 8
Caely Kesten - 10
Kelsey Fields - 2
Lindsey Kelderman - 1
Peyton Kelderman - 1

CAREER 30-POINT SCORING GAMES
Molly Hartnett - 1

ACTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES LIST
Senior Kelsey Fields has tallied 15 double-doubles in her career, as Molly Hartnett has four as a Bearcat. 

Kelsey Fields - 16
Emree Zars - 6
Molly Hartnett - 4
Sadie Maas - 1

HARTNETT BECAME 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

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.

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. Texas Woman's
2. Grand Valley State
3. Bentley
4. Texas-Tyler
5. Cal State Dominguez Hills
6. Fort Hays State
7. Ashland
8. North Georgia
9. Embry-Riddle
10. Pittsburg State
11. Concordia-St. Paul
12. Lubbock Christian
13. Coker
14. Union, TN
15. Alaska Anchorage
16. Cal Poly Pomona
17. Lewis
18. Gannon
19. Southwest Minnesota State
20. Seton Hill
21. Montana State Billings
22. Fairmont State
23. Tampa
24. Chowan
25. Colorado Mesa

NCAA CENTRAL REGION POLL - FEB. 23
1. Pittsburg State
2. Concordia-St. Paul
3. Fort Hays State
4. Missouri Western
5. Minnesota State Mankato
6. Southern Nazarene
7. Southwest Minnesota State
8. Northern State
9. Harding
10. Nebraska-Kearney

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 the 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.