LEBANON, Ill. - The women's basketball team will engage in their first two road contests in a neutral setting at Quincy University as they will face Washburn University and Roosevelt University on back-to-back days as part of the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Classic at the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Illinois.
This will be the fourth installment of the regional classic hosted by GLVC-foe Quincy. McKendree has not had a preferable record in the invitational, historically going 2-4 within the past four years, with most recently going 1-1 last season as they fell to Washburn, who they will face this season, but followed up with a 75-66 win against Hillsdale College the day after.
BEARCATS CURRENTLY
The Bearcats are coming off a blowout win over Mount Mercy University last Friday, shooting lights-out from the field on 30-57 shooting (52.6%) and 8-16 from deep (50%). McKendree's bench outscored their starters 48-40 and dropped 42 points inside the paint. The game was won in the second quarter when the Bearcats outscored the Mustangs 19-9 and ultimately came away victorious 88-55.
Sophomore forward Baylie Parks (Lake Zurich, Ill.) put in a game-high 19 points on 7-11 shooting from the floor, which made it a game career-high for her in the win. Senior guard Maci Meyer (Hubertus, Wisc.) and freshman guard Tessa Crawford (Jerseyville, Ill.) each contributed a substantial 17 points with Meyer being a disrupter on the defensive end with four steals, while Crawford was very efficient from the home floor, going 3-3 from distance and 6-7 all-around in only 13 minutes of action.
The win over Mount Mercy was the Bearcats' only game of the season as they currently sit 1-0 in the young season. The team ranks nationally in the top 25 in several statistical categories including fourth in bench points per game (48), fifth in field goal percentage (52.6), 13th in free throws made per game (20), seventh in scoring margin (+33), 11th in scoring offense (88), fourth in three-point percentage (50%), and three-point percentage defense (15.4%).
Although a small sample size, McKendree has a few players leading the Division II ranks in individual statistical categories. Crawford is tied for first in the country in three-point percentage (100%) and fourth in field goal percentage (85.7%). Meyer is 18th in steals per game (4), as senior guard Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill.) is 16th in assist/turnover ratio (4.0). Parks and junior guard Georgia Duncan (Washington, Ill.) are also both in the top 25 in rebounding, where the former is placed at 13th in offensive and Duncan at 22nd in defensive.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Washburn University | Friday, November 15th, 5:00 PM CT
Last Matchup: L, 80-64 on 11/17/2023 | RECAP | BOX SCORE
After an exciting preseason slate in setbacks to Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, Washburn dropped their first two official contests within the Central Region Crossover to Southwest Minnesota State University and St. Cloud State University.
Junior guard Peyton Sterk is the Ichabods' leading scorer, averaging 16 points a contest including 4.0 assists. Her running mate junior center Yiibari Nwidadah is a dominant force inside, putting in 15.0 points a game while grabbing 7.0 rebounds.
Washburn ranks 46th in the nation in offensive rebounding a game, averaging 15.0, which is good for third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The Ichabods are also third in the conference in turnovers forced per game at 19.5.
Roosevelt University | Saturday, November 16th, 1:00 PM CT
Last Matchup: N/A
In their first year as an NCAA institution as a Division II member, Roosevelt has yet to win a game thus far into the season, as they went 0-2 at the annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover to a couple Great Lakes Valley Conference-foes in the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville University.
The Lakers have only one double-digit scorer in the young season in sophomore guard Marie Outlay where she puts in 17.0 points a game, pulls down 7.0 rebounds, and collects 2.0 steals. She had 22 points in their first game against the Tritons while going 7-14 (50%) from the floor.
The team averages 56.5 points a game on 32.0% shooting overall. They are top five in the GLIAC in offensive rebounds per game, coming at 11.5.
TUNE IN-FO
vs Washburn University
WATCH: Click HERE ($ – GLVC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
HISTORY: Click HERE
TEAM ROSTERS: [McKendree] [Washburn]
TEAM SCHEDULES: [McKendree] [Washburn]
TEAM STATISTICS: [McKendree] [Washburn]
vs Roosevelt University
WATCH: Click HERE ($ – GLVC Sports Network)
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
HISTORY: Click HERE
TEAM ROSTERS: [McKendree] [Roosevelt]
TEAM SCHEDULES: [McKendree] [Roosevelt]
TEAM STATISTICS: [McKendree] [Roosevelt]
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