Game Notes

Date: January 2, 2020
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Lebanon, Ill.

Lebanon, Ill. - Southwest Baptist (6-3, 0-1 GLVC) returns to the United States after a 2-0 Puerto Rico trip. They begin the new year on the road at McKendree, resuming GLVC action.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats return just 1 starter from the 2018-19 season in Bailey Rezabek. SBU also returns their forward transfer duo from last season, Tyra Kidd and Zahria White. Returning for their junior seasons are Taliayah Wilson, Regan Tibbits, and Sydney Bandy. Sophomores Brylee Graddy and Megan Worthington also return. The Bearcats also add quite a few new faces, including NCAA DI transfer Alexus Johnson.

In their last competition, the Bearcats went 2-0 in Puerto Rico. Bailey Rezabek led the way in both games, scoring 14 and 23 with 5 and 8 rebounds respectively. Zahria White also had a double-double against PR-Rio Piedras, scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rezabek currently sits 3rd in points per game in the GLVC.

SCOUTING THE MCKENDREE BEARCATS
The McKendree Bearcats (Lebanon, IL) come into Thursday's game with a 7-2 (0-1 GLVC) record on the year. In their most recent competition, McKendree also traveled to Puerto Rico, winning both games as well. The Bearcats defeated PR-Rio Piedras 73-54, and PR-Mayaguez 76-47. In their only GLVC contest, McKendree fell to Southern Indiana by a score of 66-71. In that game, Jordan Heberg put up 29 points, making 10-16 field goals and 5-8 three pointers. McKendree turned the ball over 20 times, double the amount of turnovers USI had. Heberg leads the team in scoring, fourth in the GLVC behind SBU's Rezabek. Madison Hart leads the team in rebounds, averaging 10.7.
 
THE COACHES
SBU head coach Kelsey Keizer begins her sixth season on the SBU bench after compiling a 66-76 (35-63 MIAA) record while at SBU. Coach Keizer led two Bearcats to All-MIAA honors last season, and fell just short of the conference tournament as SBU lost the head-to-head against the #10 seeded MSSU earlier in the season.

Kari Kerkhoff is entering her fifth season on the McKendree bench. In March of 2015, Kerkhoff was named the women's head basketball coach after serving as an associate head coach for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for three seasons. Kerkhoff has led the Bearcats to four doubledigit win seasons, finishing 13-15 (7-11 GLVC) last year

ALL-TIME SERIES
Southwest Baptist and McKendree have met twice, with SBU taking both competitions. In 2014-15, SBU defeated McKendree 54-43 and also won in 2015-16 by a score of 51-48.