St. Joseph, MO - McKendree University Women's Basketball wraps up its 2025 schedule on Saturday afternoon, traveling to the MWSU Fieldhouse to face the Missouri Western Griffons in a non-conference matchup that features a pair of programs coming off of decisive victories. The Bearcats (5-3) enter the game with momentum after showcasing their offensive firepower in a lopsided home win over Eureka on Tuesday (97-37), while the Griffons (3-7) snapped a four-game skid with a 28-point road win over GLVC member Lincoln on Thursday night. It's a pairing that will test McKendree's defense against Missouri Western's scoring balance.
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RECAPPING EUREKA
McKendree delivered a statement performance against the Eureka Red Devils just a couple days ago, cruising to a 97-37 win. The Bearcats opened the contest on a 27-2 run, holding Eureka to just one made field goal in the quarter while forcing turnovers at a relentless rate.
The Bearcats finished the game with 32 forced turnovers and converted those miscues into 52 points.
Morgan Feil led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, adding nine rebounds and three made three-pointers.
Jayce Privia posted a complete performance with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a career-high six steals.
Taylor Fohey added 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while
Hannah Fenton chipped in 11 points and three assists. McKendree totaled 80 bench points, recorded 24 steals, led for all but 1:40 of the game, and pushed the margin to as many as 65 points.
CHECKING IN ON THE BEARCATS
McKendree enters the game sitting among the league's top teams early in the conference schedule. The Bearcats have been one of the most productive offensive teams in the GLVC, leading the league in scoring at 74.5 points per game, while also ranking second in rebounding (43.1 per game) and first in offensive rebounds (16.0 per game). McKendree has paired that with offensive production and a strong defense, allowing just 60.4 points per game and holding opponents to 38.8% shooting from the field.
McKendree's pressure style has translated into advantages across the stat sheet. The Bearcats force 16.0 turnovers per game with a +5.0 turnover margin, while ranking among the conference leaders in steals at 13.1 per game. That has fueled a +14.1 scoring margin on the year.
SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
Missouri Western comes into Saturday's matchup and returns home with its roster of nine transfers after its most efficient offensive output of the season, an 89-61 road win at GLVC member Lincoln. While the Griffons were searching for consistency early, their profile bigger picture shows a team capable of scoring in bunches when spacing and ball movement are at their peak.
Mia Morel leads Missouri Western offensively and has been the Griffons' primary scoring option all season. She is coming off a 25-point performance against Lincoln, adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and remains the focal point of the perimeter attack. In the paint, Nakiya Harris provides a steady presence. Harris, who came with first-year head coach Luke Scheidecker from his previous job at NJCAA Division-I power Wabash Valley, posted a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in the win at Lincoln. Ana Oliveira Dias plays a key role, contributing across multiple categories. Against Lincoln, she finished with 8 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.
As a team, Missouri Western's offensive ceiling is tied to the perimeter game. The Griffons knocked down 13 three-pointers in their last game and scored at least 17 points in every quarter, a formula they will look to carry into Saturday's game.
BEARCAT KEYS TO THE GAME
Disrupt Missouri Western's Offensive Rhythm
Missouri Western is most effective when its perimeter offense is flowing. McKendree must apply consistent ball pressure, disrupt the passing lanes, and force the Griffons to operate under as much of the shot clock as possible.
Turn Defense into Immediate Offense
McKendree's success against Eureka was fueled by converting steals and stops into transition scoring. Pushing tempo after stops will be critical in the road atmosphere of St. Joseph.
Control the Paint While Staying Disciplined on Shooters
With Nakiya Harris anchoring the interior and multiple perimeter threats around her, McKendree will need to protect the paint without over helping and thus giving up clean three-point looks.
Lean on Depth and Composure on the Road
Sustained energy and focus will be key, as is the case any time you're away from home. McKendree's depth and rotation that they were able to use on Tuesday will be a definite factor in finishing the calendar year on a high note.
