SBU BEARCATS (3-11, 1-6 MIAA) vs. NEBRASKA-OMAHA MAVERICKS (8-6, 3-4 MIAA)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 • 5:30 PM
BOLIVAR, MO • MEYER SPORTS CENTER
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SBU NOTES | UNO NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats host the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks Thursday in what kicks off a stretch where the 'Cats will play five of their next seven games in the Meyer Sports Center. SBU will try to end a three-game skid, which came against the top three teams in the MIAA (Emporia State, Washburn and Fort Hays).       
   
Senior Rachel Graves continues to lead the Bearcats, scoring 13.1 points per game, 10th-most in the MIAA. Graves is also among the leaders in a few other key categories, including three-pointers made, (2nd, averaging 2.9 treys a game), three-point percentage, (4th, at 42.3%) and minutes played per game (5th, with 31.1).
   
Point guard Ashleigh Gallio is one of the MIAA's top passers, averaging 4.1 assists a game, ranking her third among the league leaders. Gallio is also one of the better guards in the league at controlling mistakes, as her assist-to-turnover ratio is at 1.1 (8th in MIAA). Courtney Heady is a key component for SBU, scoring in double figures in 8 of the last 9 games while coming off the bench. Heady's 10.6 points per game puts her just inside the top 20 scorers in the MIAA. Heady's 2.6 threes per game and 37.8% shooting percentage from beyond the arc are fifth and sixth-best in the league, respectively.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU head coach J.C. Carter is in his second season on the bench for the Bearcats, where he has earned a career mark of 11-31. Last season, Carter led the 'Cats to an upset of nationally-ranked Emporia State on their own floor, and earned a berth into the MIAA Tournament.
   
Mavericks head coach Patty Patton Shearer is UNO's all-time leader in winning percentage. Omaha has enjoyed four straight winning seasons under the Shearer era, and has enjoyed a record of 90-67 over five and a half seasons. Last season's 11-9 mark in the MIAA was the Mavs' first winning conference record since 1991-92. Although the two sides haven't seen much of each other over the years, UNO leads the all-time series 3-2 after the season sweep of the Bearcats. Before UNO joined the MIAA last season, the two sides hadn't met since SBU defeated the Mavs in the 1998-99 season.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Nebraska-Omaha were winners of four of their last five games before a close overtime loss to Central Missouri last Saturday. While the Mavs may not set the nets on fire (only averaging 64.4 ppg), they make their name on the defensive side of the floor, holding opponents to only 59.1 points per game (4th in MIAA). The Mavs are also the conference leaders in steals, with 12.6 per game, highlighted by the duo of Jamie Nash and Alyssa Green, who lead the MIAA with 3.4 and 2.9 steals per game respectively. Green is also the biggest offensive threat, shooting 36% from the field, and scoring 14.9 points per game (6th in MIAA).

NEXT UP FOR THE SBU BEARCATS
The annual battle of the Bearcats will take place this Saturday up in Maryville, as SBU faces Northwest Missouri State. The green Bearcats recently ended a three-game slide after defeating Truman on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Shelly Martin. Northwest has a trio of offensive threats, in center Gentry Dietz (16.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg), and guards Gabby Curtis (14.4 ppg), and Abby Henry (11.4 ppg). Dietz also leads the MIAA with 2.4 blocked shots per game.