Game Notes

Date: December 14, 2020
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Lebanon, Ill.

Lebanon, Ill. - The Bearcats (0-2, 0-2 GLVC) are traveling out-of-state for the first time this year to Lebanon, Ill. for a matchup with McKendree University (1-3, 1-3 GLVC). SBU is looking to get that first win of the season.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
In their first year as full-time members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the SBU Women's Basketball team finished 15-13 (9-11 GLVC) on the year. The GLVC allows just 8 teams to make the conference tournament. Finishing 10th out of 16 teams in the GLVC, the Bearcats narrowly missed the conference tournament for the second straight year.

Seven players return from last season, including three starters. Kyleigh Vaught returns for her second season with the Bearcats after receiving third team All-GLVC honors last year. Regan Tibbits and Sydney Bandy also return from last season's starting lineup. Some of the new faces will make an early impact on the team to help the Bearcats jump to a hot start in this conference only season. 

SCOUTING THE MCKENDREE BEARCATS
The McKendree Bearcats are off to a 1-3 start to the 2020-21 season  The Bearcats are averaging 58.3 points per game on 38% field goal percentage while allowing 66.5 on 45% shooting from their opponents. The Bearcats are led by Senior Madison Jones who is averaging 13 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game. and 2.75 assists per game. Freshman Christy Fortune has also brought in a new scoring option with 9.3 points per game through her four starts. The Bearcats also have a bench that is bringing in a combined 17 points per game and 10 rebounds per contest.

THE COACHES
SBU head coach Kelsey Keizer begins her seventh season on the SBU bench after compiling a 81-90 (44-74 conf.) record while at SBU. Coach Keizer led two Bearcats to All-GLVC honors last season, and fell just short of the conference tournament as the GLVC takes only 8 teams to the postseason tournament.

Kari Kerkhoff is entering her sixth season at the healm for McKendree with a 60-83 (29-67 GLVC) record during that time. Kerkhoff has led the Bearcats to 12 wins in her first season after winning 11 games combined in the two previous seasons. She has also led the Bearcats to three GLVC tournament berths in her tenure.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Southwest Baptist and McKendree have met three times, with SBU taking all three competitions. In 2019-20, Southwest Baptist pulled out the 63-58 win at McKendree.