Game Notes

Date: November 18, 2021
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Bolivar, Mo.

Bolivar, Mo. - The team returns to Bolivar following a weekend split at their opening tournament in Nashville, TN. Thursday's matchup will feature former MIAA foe, the Missouri Western Griffons who are 2-0 to begin the year

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.

The Bearcats are 1-1 on the season so far, splitting their opening tournament at Nashville, TN. In the opening contest, SBU fell 75-66 to a solid Kentucky Wesleyan team who upset #2 Drury the next day. SBU was neck and neck with the KWC through the first 3 quarters, falling behind in the final frame. On Saturday, the team defeated Trevecca Nazarene 67-54 to pick up their first W of the season. Taking advantage of her extra year of eligibility, Kyleigh Vaught is off to a hot start this year, recording 29 points on 50% shooting, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals so far. Mary Rose Foster has also looked sharp, making 7-13 field goals for 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. A couple of newcomers, Kelsey Blakemore and Micah Clayton, have looked impressive as well. Blakemore with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, Clayton with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
The Missouri Western Griffons enter Thursday's matchup with a perfect 2-0 record to begin the year. They hosted their opening tournament last weekend, defeating Sioux Falls 76-68 on Friday and Southeastern Oklahoma State 78- 67 on Saturday. Against Sioux Falls, the Griffons didn't shoot particularly well, going 25-72 (34.7%) from the field. They were carried by Corbyn Cunningham (24 points) and Jaelyn Haggard (23 points). The Southeastern game was a different story, as the team went 32-65 (49.2%) from the field and was led by Connie Clark's double-double at 19 points and 10 rebounds. Three other Griffons had double digit points as well.

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.

Candi Whitaker enters her third season on the Griffon bench, compiling a 27-24 record in her first two seasons. In 2019-20, Whitaker led the Griffons to a 21-8 (13-6 MIAA) record, good for 4th place in the MIAA. Prior to MWSU, she was the head coach at Texas Tech from 2013-18, and the associate head coach at Oklahoam State in 2012-13.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SBU trails the all-time series with MWSU, 21-35. However, the Bearcats have won 3 out of the past 5 meetings. The last meeting was in 2019-20 in a non-conference matchup in St. Joseph, MO. Kyleigh Vaught was in double digits in that game, scoring 10 points along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.