LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University women's basketball continues their 2022-23 campaign this coming weekend at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Classic hosted by Quincy University at Pepsi Arena.
McKendree opens play on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. against Winona State before facing Rogers State on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.
The Bearcats head into the weekend with an 0-2 record following two contests last weekend at the Midwest Region Crossover hosted by Tiffin. McKendree was defeated by Tiffin 51-41 and Purdue Northwest 75-46 in their opening games of the 2022-23 season.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Leading the Bearcats offensively through the first two games is junior forward
Naomi McDaniel (Attica, Ind./Parkland CC) averaging 9.5 points per game with a 64.3 field goal percentage on the season. In addition to McDaniel, junior guard
Maclayne Taylor (Ogden, Ill./Lincoln Land CC) is averaging 7.5 points per game ,while sophomore guard
Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) averaged 7.0 points per game across the two contests for the Bearcats.
On the boards, McKendree has been led by McDaniel and junior guard
Christy Fortune (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West). McDaniel leads with 8.0 rebounds per game while Fortune has grabbed 6.0 per game so far.
As a team, the Bearcats currently average 43.5 points per game while also posting 9.0 steals per game.
This weekend marks the Bearcats' third appearance in the Quincy Classic as McKendree participated in the tournament during the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons.
ABOUT WINONA STATE
Winona State has started the 2022-23 season with three wins at the 2022 Puerto Rico Clasico in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, defeating the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 64-46, the University of West Alabama 58-55, and the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 62-54.
The Bearcats and Warriors have met only twice before, Winona State holding a 2-0 advantage over McKendree. The two teams last season in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Classic as Winona State prevailed 70-46.
Winona State returns two starters from last year - junior guard Caitlyn Riley and sophomore guard Mattie Schimenz. Riley averaged 9.0 points per game last season for the Warriors and was recently tabbed the 2022-23 Winona State Player to Watch in the NSIC. Schimenz averaged 7.7 points per game and tallied the team's second-highest number of assists with 52 for the 2021-22 season.
Winona State ended the 2021-22 season with a 12-15 overall record and a 9-13 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. This year, the Warriors have been picked via preseason polls to finish 11th in the NSIC.
ABOUT ROGERS STATE
Rogers State comes into the weekend with a 0-2 record after their outing at the MIAA/NSIC Regional Challenge hosted by MSU-Moorhead. The Hillcats fell to MSU-Moorhead 63-40 and Northern State 67-46 this past weekend.
The match-up between McKendree and Rogers State will be the first meeting of the schools in 10 years as the last contest between the two teams took place at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Thanksgiving Classic in 2012. McKendree holds the 1-0 advantage over Rogers State as the Bearcats defeated the Hillcats 79-70 in their lone meeting.
Among the key returners for the Hillcats is senior Bailey Kliewer, who led the Hillcats in points (355), rebounds (152), blocks (14), and points per game (12.7) in the 2021-22 season. In Rogers State's first two games for the 2022-23 season, Kliewer sports a 13.5 points per game average, including an 18-point showing against Northern State.
In addition to Kliewer, senior Jordan Lewis returns for the Hillcats after tallying 318 points in the 2021-22 season and recording a 12.2 points per game average. Lewis also collected the second-highest number of rebounds on the team (140). In the first two games for the 2022-23 season, Lewis has average 9.0 points per game.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 19
McKendree vs. Winona State – 1 p.m.
Quincy vs. Rogers State – 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 20
McKendree vs. Rogers State – 1 p.m.
Quincy vs. Winona State – 3 p.m.
Following this weekend's outing, McKendree women's basketball will host their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. against Blackburn College.
