McKendree University women's basketball closes out their 2022 schedule on Monday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center with a non-conference game against Culver-Stockton at 1 p.m. The Bearcats will have 16-day hiatus following the contest and will return to play on Thursday, Jan. 5 against Drury.
McKendree looks to bounce back following their recent 61-38 setback to non-conference foe Northwest Missouri State earlier this week. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Bearcats as they captured three consecutive conference wins against William Jewell, Rockhurst, and Southwest Baptist. McKendree sports a 5-5 overall record and 3-1 Great Lakes Valley Conference record, while Culver-Stockton currently sits at 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Monday's game will mark the fifth meeting between McKendree and Culver-Stockton in 16 years as the last game took place in Dec. of 2018. The Bearcats hold a 3-1 all-time advantage over the Wildcats as McKendree took the win 69-64 in 2018. Both teams close out their 2022 schedules with Monday's contest and will return to play after Christmas break.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Following Tuesday's game, the Bearcats are 2-4 in non-conference play for the season and will face Culver-Stockton in their last regular schedule non-conference game in their 2022-23 campaign.
Offensively, the Bearcats are averaging 62.9 points per game as a team, shooting 43 percent from the field, 28 percent from the three-point line, and 77 percent from the free throw line through their ten games.
Leading the Bearcats is junior forward Naomi McDaniel (Attica, Ind./Parkland CC), averaging 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 53 percent from the field and leading the team with 1.3 blocks per game. McDaniel most recently recorded her second double-double performance of the season against Northwest Missouri State with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the setback.
In addition to McDaniel, sophomore guard Clare Breden (Jerseyville, Ill./Jerseyville) averages double-digit scoring with 10.2 points per game as well as leads the team in steals (1.6 per game) and assists (2.3 per game). Breden has recorded a team-high 35 percent three-point shooting percentage in the Bearcats' ten games so far.
Two more Bearcats average seven or more points as junior guards Christy Fortune (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) and Maclayne Taylor (St. Joseph, Ill./Lincoln Land CC) average 7.9 points and 7.3 points per game, respectively.
Defensively, McKendree is holding opponents to 60.9 points per game while snagging 8.2 steals per game.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Culver-Stockton heads into the contest with a 10-2 overall record after a 75-61 setback to Central Methodist, marking the Wildcats' second loss of the season and first conference loss. The setback put a halt to the Wildcats' seven-game win streak, including five conference wins in the run.
Offensively, the Wildcats average 69.4 points scored per game while shooting 41 percent from the field, 33 percent from the three-point line, and 74 percent from the foul stripe. In the Wildcats' 10 wins, they have won eight of the contests by 12 points or more.
Three Wildcats are averaging double-digit scoring as they are led by senior guard McKenzie Lathrom has recorded a 14.9 points per game average. Through the Wildcats' 12 games, Lathrom has shot 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from the three-point line. Lathrom recorded a season-high 28 points in the Wildcats' 85-52 victory over Hannibal-LaGrange in early November.
In addition to Lathrom, sophomore forward Katie Webb has amassed an 11.3-point scoring average while freshman Avery Oetting has averaged 10.2 points per game off the bench for the Wildcats. Webb leads the team shooting 52 percent from the field while Oetting has shot a team-high 88 percent from the free throw line.
Leading on the boards for Culver-Stockton is junior forward Whynter Brennan with 5.5 rebounds per game.
Culver-Stockton faces Baker University on Saturday, Dec. 17 in a conference game before making the trip to Lebanon for the Monday afternoon contest.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats finish out the 2022 schedule with Monday's game and will return to action after Christmas break with a conference contest at No. 5-ranked Drury on Thursday, Jan. 5.
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