SBU BEARCATS (9-17, 7-12 MIAA) at
MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (7-19, 5-14 MIAA)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010 • 5:30 PM
ST. JOSEPH, MO • MWSU FIELDHOUSE
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SBU NOTES | MWSU NOTES
   
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – After a dismal 1-10 start to the conference season, the SBU Bearcats can give themselves a solid chance at a berth into the MIAA Tournament with a win over the Missouri Western State Griffons in the final game of the regular season. The Griffons held off the Bearcats earlier this year in Bolivar, 75-74. SBU will have an indication of their fate prior to their game Saturday night, as Northwest Missouri and Nebraska-Omaha play in afternoon contests.

The Bearcats have turned the corner since the end of January, winning six of their last eight. Senior Rachel Graves has helped lead SBU through the turnaround, averaging 16.1 points in the month of February. Graves has raised her scoring average more than a full point, going from 12.4 at the end of January, to 13.8 (9th in MIAA). Graves also leads the team in three-point percentage (39.3%, 3rd in MIAA) and threes made per game (2.7, tied for 4th in MIAA, with teammate Heady).

Courtney Heady has scored in double figures in six of her last seven games, and scored a team-high 19 points against UNO last week, including the last second shot for the win. Heady is also among the league leaders in scoring, ranking 16th with 11.9 points per game. Along with Graves, Heady ranks in the top ten in the MIAA in both three-point percentage (36.8%, 8th), and treys made (2.7, T-4th)

Freshman Kourtni Williams has been a big part of SBU's late-season run, being named as a starter at the beginning of February. Williams has set a new career high in scoring four times since her first start against Pittsburg State, scoring 11 against the Gorillas, 12 points in the next game against Truman, 14 in the win against Fort Hays, and most recently 16 in the nail-biter against Nebraska-Omaha.
 
THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES   
SBU head coach J.C. Carter has reached a personal best of nine wins in a season with the victory over Northwest Missouri earlier this week. Currently in his second year as head coach, Carter has a 17-37 record at SBU. In what could be considered two of his biggest wins to date, Carter led the Bearcats to an upset of nationally-ranked Emporia State on their home court last season, and knocked off Missouri Western on the last game of the regular season to earn a berth over the Griffons into the MIAA Tournament.

Lynn Plett is the head coach of the Griffons, where he has been for three seasons. Lynn Plett has earned a 25-55 record during his time 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 earned his 300th career win against SBU earlier this year, and currently sits at 301-289. Missouri Western leads the all-time series, 32-10, but the Bearcats have won three of the last four matchups, all double-digit victories.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS       
Missouri Western has lost their last eight games and have mathematically been eliminated from a trip to Kansas City for the conference tournament. 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 sophomore forward Jessica Koch, who is among the MIAA leaders in points (14.4 ppg; 7th in MIAA), rebounds (7.1 rpg; 6th), and steals (2.0 spg; 5th).

NEXT UP FOR THE SBU BEARCATS 
Depending on the outcomes of games around the conference Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the SBU Bearcats could be headed to Kansas City for the MIAA Tournament. The Bearcats stand their best chance with a win against Missouri Western, along with a Pittsburg State win over Nebraska-Omaha. That scenario would put SBU one game ahead of UNO for the eighth spot, although things can get very complicated with wins by Fort Hays State and/or Northwest Missouri. If SBU and UNO both lose (and Truman loses as well), SBU will win the tiebreaker for eighth, as long as Missouri Southern finishes alone in fifth place at 10-10. The Bearcats split with the Lions while MSSU swept the Mavericks.