Game Notes

Date: November 20, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Bolivar, Mo.

Bolivar, Mo. - Southwest Baptist remains at home following Thursday's competition against Missouri Western. Saturday's matchup will feature the Haskell Indians, tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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 1-2 on the season so far, splitting their opening tournament at Nashville, TN and falling to Missouri Western 45-70. 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. Kyleigh Vaught is the team leader with 34 points. She also has 5 assists and 4 steals so far this year. Mary Rose Foster isn't far behind, recording 31 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Also contributing to the offense is Kelsey Blakemore with 27 points, Nyah Pettus with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Micah Clayton with 22 points. The team is shooting 39.5% from the field and 33.3% from deep so far this year.

SCOUTING THE INDIANS
The Haskell University Indians enter Saturday's matchup with a 4-6 (1-0 CAC) record. Starting out 0-3, they played the #11 team in NAIA, Mid-America Nazarene, upsetting the Pioneers 60-57 on their home court. That started a three-game winning streak, where they went on to defeat Bacone College and Baptist Bible College by 30 points each. Haskell later defeated Livin' the Dream 77-46, but lost their last game 71-66 to Graceland. In that most recent contest, Tiana Guillory led the team with 19 points on 8-12 shooting, completing a double-double with 10 rebounds. She also had 3 blocks and 3 steals. Mahpiya Irving (13 points) and Cayla Jones (12 points) were also in double digits.

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.

Adam Strom joins the Haskell bench for his first season as the leader of the Indians. Prior to Haskell, Strom coached at Yakima Valley College for five seasons, guiding the team to a 17-win season and a playoff game. Before his collegiate coaching career, Strom spent 15 years coaching high school basketball, ten seasons with a boys team and five with a girls team.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday will mark the first matchup between the teams.