THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
MIAA/NSIC Crossover
Hays, Kan.
Friday, Nov. 9, 5:00 p.m. vs. Upper Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m. vs. Southwest Minnesota State

 
ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Women's Basketball will officially begin the 2018-19 season in Hays, Kansas this weekend as they take on two NSIC teams in Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State. It will be the first regular season action for the Griffons, as the team's only exhibition came against University of Missouri on October 29.
 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Griffons will rely on experience early, as they return nine players from last year's team to mix with six newcomers.
• This will be the fourth-straight year that Missouri Western has started its season against Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State. The Griffons have won all six of those games dating back to 2015.
• One constant in the women's basketball program for the last three seasons has been Melia Richardson. Richardson returns for her senior season after averaging a career-high 11 points and three assists per game as a junior.
• Missouri Western will try to shake off its road woes from a year ago. The Griffons were 9-6 at home, but just 4-12 in games outside of the MWSU Fieldhouse.
• Katrina Roenfeldt will look to pick up where she left off from the team's exhibition at Missouri where she led all scorers with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Roenfeldt was awarded a medical redshirt after breaking her hand eight games into last season.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS

• Missouri Western was one of the best defensive teams in the MIAA last season, allowing only 60 points per game.
• KeShara Scott led the team in rebounds at over seven per game.
• The Griffons forced 17 turnovers per game last season.
• Eight of the Griffons' nine returners started at least six games last season.

 
UPPER IOWA

• Guard Natalie Dinus averaged 8.6 points per game last season for Upper Iowa.
• The team returns four players that started at least 14 games last season.
• Upper Iowa allowed 73 points per game last season.
• The Peacocks are coming off a 2-27 season in 2017-18.
• Micha Thompson will be coaching in her third season at Upper Iowa after having served as an assistant at Utah State.

 
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

• Caleigh Rodning will be back for the Mustangs after averaging 13 points per game last season.
• The Mustangs scored 62 points per game last season.
• Southwest Minnesota State was one of the better free throw shooting teams in the NSIC last season, shooting 76 percent as a team.
• The Mustangs return all five starters from last year's team.
• The program will be aiming for its first winning season since 2009-10.