Bolivar, Mo. – Heading into Christmas break the Bearcat women's basketball team looks to end 2025 with some momentum by winning two out of their last three games. They will battle the Patriots from Mission University on Thursday in the Meyer Center. It will be an electric atmosphere with over 700 local kids in attendance for kids game.
 
The team enters this non-conference match splitting their most recent road conference trip. It started with a big comeback against the William Jewell Cardinals for their first conference win of the season. Just before that game, SBU had a one-point loss to the GLVC favorites of Drury University. Now they head into Christmas break with a 1-3 conference record with plenty of ability to make a run come the new year.
 
Leading the team in scoring and rebounds is junior Kamiyah Hurd averaging 10.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG. She is shooting an efficient 50.9% from the field and 86.1% from the charity stripe with her three double-doubles this season. Two others are averaging in double figures in Natalia Crooke and Ida Lusadisu N'Gonda. Crooke has 10.3 PPG while leading the team in three-pointers (18) and assists (29). N'Gonda is scoring 10.0 PPG while being a big contributor in blocks with 10 on the season. The team as a whole has 41 on the season which is 1^st in the conference and 26^th in the Nation.
 
The game against the Patriots on Thursday will take place at 11:00 a.m. SBU holds a 1-0 record all time against Mission University with a 79-43 win back in December of 2021. For all of the latest information on SBU Athletics, please visit sbubearcats.com. Follow our Instagram to find up-to-the-minute updates and daily content.