Game Notes

Date: December 11, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Springfield, Mo.

Springfield, Mo. - The SBU Women's team will head south for a quick road trip, taking on the Baptist Bible College Patriots on their home court. SBU is coming off a strong 77-59 win over GLVC opponent Missouri S&T.

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.

With Saturday's win, the Bearcats sit at 4-4 (2-1 GLVC) on the season. SBU went 2-1 in their first week of conference play, beginning with a strong defensive performance against William Jewell 65-35, falling to Rockhurst on the road 81-69, and taking down Missouri S&T with strong first and fourth quarters 77-59. Nyah Pettus had a really strong week to continue her solid year so far, second in scoring with 73 points (9.1 ppg) on 55.4% shooting from the field. She leads the team in rebounding with 45 boards (5.6 rpg), steals with 11, and blocks at 5. Kyleigh Vaught remains the leading scorer with 89 points (11.1 ppg). She has been nearly perfect from the free throw line at 18-21, and has 22 assists to 10 turnovers with 9 steals this year. From beyond the arc, Emma Perry has made 19 three pointers, scoring 68 points at the guard position.

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
The Baptist Bible College Patriots come into Saturday's matchup with a 3-6 record on the year. They began the year with three straight losses of 30+ points to Baker 105-61, Haskell 88-58, and Missouri Valley 104-49. SBU defeated Haskell 88-43 a few weeks ago. Following those tough losses, BBC bounced back with a strong 97-60 win against Ecclesia College. Since that win, they have won 2 and lost 3, most recently a 95-65 loss to Webster. Gabby Adams and Harley Maxwell are the leading scorers, both over the century mark through 9 contests. Adams has 113 points (12.6 ppg) and Maxwell has 111 (12.3 ppg). Maxwell does most of the rebounding, collecting 71 for 7.9 rpg. She also has 9 blocks.

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.

Dakota Webb is the leader of the Patriots for the 2021-22 season. He graduated from Dadeville High School as a 4-year letterman, helping the team to a 4-year record of 103-17. In 2013, Webb became an assistant coach at Longmont High School in Colorado. Prior to BBC, Webb founded his own business, Webb Basketball LLC.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday marks the first meeting between the schools.