SBU BEARCATS (3-13, 1-8 MIAA) vs
MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (5-11, 3-6 MIAA)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010 • 5:30 PM
BOLIVAR, MO • MEYER SPORTS CENTER
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SBU NOTES | MWSU NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats will kick off the longest homestand of the season, as they host the Missouri Western Griffons in the first of three matchups in the Meyer Sports Center. The 'Cats look to position themselves for a run at the MIAA Tournament in what is the mid-point game on the conference schedule. SBU is working towards ending a five-game slide that includes a pair of heartbreaking losses by 7 and 5 points to Nebraska-Omaha and Northwest Missouri, respectively.
   
Senior Rachel Graves continues to lead the Bearcats, scoring 12.5 points per game, 12th-most in the MIAA. Graves is also among the leaders in a few other key categories, including three-pointers made, (2nd, averaging 2.8 treys a game), three-point percentage, (4th, at 39.6%) and minutes played per game (5th, with 31.5).
   
Point guard Ashleigh Gallio is one of the MIAA's top passers, averaging 3.9 assists a game, ranking her tied for fourth among the league leaders. Courtney Heady is a key component for SBU, scoring in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games, earning her a starting spot last weekend against Northwest Missouri. Heady's 10.8 points per game puts her 19th in the MIAA. Freshman forward Chasity Prince has come on as of late, putting up 14 points and five rebounds. in the last two games, against Nebraska-Omaha and NWMSU.

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 11-33. 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.

Griffons head coach Lynn Plett has earned a 23-47 record over three seasons in St. Joseph. Plett has seen three players named to All-MIAA teams, two All-Region players, and sophomore Jessica Koch named MIAA Freshman of the Year. Plett is looking for his 300th win, with his current career mark sitting at 299-281. Missouri Western leads the all-time series, 31-10, but the Bearcats have won three of the last four matchups, all double-digit victories.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Last season, SBU defeated Missouri Western in the last game of the regular season to earn a berth to the MIAA Tournament. Four starters return from that Griffons' squad, led by forward Jessica Koch, who is among the MIAA leaders in points (14.8 ppg; 5th in MIAA), rebounds (6.4 rpg; 9th), assists (3.2 apg; 8th), steals (2.2 spg; T-4th), and field goal percentage (46.9%; 2nd).

NEXT UP FOR THE SBU BEARCATS
The Jennies of Central Missouri return to Bolivar two months after their appearance in the SBU Thanksgiving Classic, where they defeated Drury on a buzzer-beater before falling to Quincy on the second day of the tournament. Central Missouri bounced back from a recent four-game slide to take two of its last three matchups, including a 22-point win over the Griffons. Guard Deidra Dace and center Rebecca Roberts are a one-two punch for the Jennies, averaging 12.1 and 10.9 points a game, repectively. Junior guard Danielle Shows is a defensive force, averaging 7.6 boards a game (5.1 defensive rebounds a game, most in the MIAA). Kara Fleming is dealing out an average of 4.1 assists per game, second-most in the conference.

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