Kentucky Wesleyan Game Notes
Trevecca Nazarene Game Notes

Date: November 12-13, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM
Location: Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville, Tenn. - Southwest Baptist returns to action after a shortened 2020-21 season. They'll kick off their 28-game season on the road, playing in a two-day tournament against Kentucky Wesleyan and Trevecca Nazarene.

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.

The 2020-21 season was a shortened, conference opponent only season due to COVID-19. In that shortened season, SBU finished with a 5-14 record. Their strongest portion of the season came in January, as the team won 4 contests, 3 of those in a row. Arguably their best win came on the road against Maryville, defeating the Saints 100-97 in double overtime. Returning for an extra year of eligibility is All-GLVC selection, Kyleigh Vaught. She started 18 games last year, leading the team with 564 minutes played, scoring 261 points which averages to 14.5 per game (20th in GLVC). From the free throw line, Vaught shot 66-75 (88.0%) which led the conference. Vaught also led the team in three's made (27), assists (41), and steals (26). Eight other Bearcats return from the 2020-21 roster, including Brylee Graddy, Rachel Tippens, Nyah Pettus, Mary Rose Foster, Gabriella Capasso, Natalie Basham, Bella Irlenborn, and Alyssa Williams.

SCOUTING THE KENTUCKY WESLEYAN PANTHERS
The Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers had a strong 2020-21 season, finishing 18-6 overall. In the regular season, KWC finished 16-4, earning the two seed in the GMAC Tournament. Winning their first two rounds of the tournament, the Panthers advanced to the conference championship where they fell to Tiffin, 57-61 in overtime. KWC was forced to face Tiffin in the first round of the NCAA Regionals as well, dropping again 70-56. In their 2021-22 preseason poll, KWC was picked 3rd behind Walsh and Ashland. The Panthers return quite a few key players such as Tahlia Walton (11.9 ppg, 4.0 rbg), senior Cali Nolot (9.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), junior Leah Richardson (7.8 ppg, 2.1 apg), and senior Emma Johnson (6.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

SCOUTING THE TREVECCA NAZARENE TROJANS
The Trevecca Nazarene Trojans played just 12 games in the shortened 2020-21 season, finishing at an even .500 with a 6-6 record. One of their biggest wins came against Tiffin on February 13, where the Trojans handed the (eventual) conference winners a 67-65 loss on their home court. TNU went on to face Kentucky Wesleyan in the first round of the conference tournament, but fell to the Panthers 54-76. Three starters return for TNU, Keely Carter (16.4 ppg), Faith Wilkin (14.2 ppg), and Grace Baird. Ten new faces join the Trojan team for the 2021-22 season.

THE COACHES

SBU head coach Kelsey Keizer begins her eighth season on the SBU bench after compiling a 86-104 (49-88 conf.) record while at SBU. Coach Keizer led the Bearcats to back-to-back-to-back winning seasons (2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18) for the first time since the 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03 seasons. Since joining the GLVC in 2019, Keizer has had three AllGLVC selections.

Caleb and Nicole Nieman lead the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers as Co-Head Coaches. They've been doing such 9 seasons, compiling the most successful nine-year record in program history at 170-87. In 2019, the Nieman's led the Panthers to the conference title and competed in the post season, eventually falling to #1 ranked Drury.

Chad Hibdon took over as the head coach of the Trojans prior to the 2016-17 season. Since then, Hibdon has led TNU to a 38-71 (28-48 conf.) record. He previously coached at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, producing a 199-98 overall record. His final two teams finished 66-3.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday and Saturday will mark the first meetings between these teams.