Brandon Stinson

Women's Basketball 12/19/2023 12:45:00 PM Brandon Stinson | Sports Information & Media Coordinator

Rocky Women’s Basketball Seeks to Maintain Undefeated Record in the Cactus Classic

CHANDLER, Ariz.- The Battlin' Bears will play their first game of record in almost a month as they play the first of three games in this year's Cactus Classic on Tuesday.

Matchups

#12 Rocky Mountain College (7-0) vs University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis (4-3)
Tuesday, December 19th | 6:00pm (MT) | Chandler, Arizona

#12 Rocky Mountain College (7-0) vs Benedictine University-Mesa (3-5)
Thursday, December 21st | 10:00am (MT) | Chandler, Arizona

#12 Rocky Mountain College (7-0) vs #2 Indiana Wesleyan University (9-1)
Friday, December 22nd | 4:00pm (MT) | Chandler, Arizona

All Games Played at Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Battlin' Bear Recap

The Battlin' Bears enter Tuesday's game without a game of record since their 91-49 runaway victory over Valley City State University on November 25th in Dickinson, North Dakota. Since then, the Battlin' Bears have competed twice, taking two losses against NCAA opponents MSU Billings and Boise State University, both as exhibition matches.

The Rocky women have been one of the best statistical teams in the Frontier Conference on both sides of the floor so far this season. They lead all teams in points per game (81.0) and rank second in points allowed (54.6). Their 54.6 points allowed this season also ranks 13th in the NAIA and their 81.0 points per game ranks 25th in the NAIA to begin the season.

The Battlin' Bears have taken care of the ball extremely well this season as they average just 11.1 turnovers per game, the fourth fewest in the NAIA this season. They have coupled that with forcing 17 turnovers per game, an eye-popping 6.7 turnover margin so far this season that leads the Frontier Conference.

Not only has Morgan Baird been the leading scorer for the Battlin' Bears and the second-leading scorer in the conference, but she's also been impressively efficient while doing so. Her 63.7% field goal percentage leads the Frontier Conference this season and ties her for 16th in the NAIA. Of all 30 players in the NAIA this season who are shooting 60% or better from the field, only four players surpass Baird's 19.7 points per game.

Dominique Stephens has not only made a jump this season in her scoring average, going from 8.7 points per game last season to 13.1 points per game so far this season, but she has also made a jump in her playmaking ability. Stephens leads the Battlin' Bears this season with 3.3 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the conference overall. Her 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6 leads the Frontier Conference among qualifying players.

The Battlin' Bears will get the challenge of playing three games in four days in the Cactus Classic. A season ago, the Rocky women finished the Cactus Classic 2-1, with commanding wins over Benedictine University-Mesa and San Diego Christian College. Their lone loss came to Rust College in an overtime bout between two programs that would both qualify for last season's NAIA National Tournament.

Preview - UHSP

The Eutectics enter the Cactus Classic with a 4-3 record so far this season, most recently winning their home opener against Midway University.

The star of the show for UHSP is senior guard Grace Beyer. Beyer leads the NAIA this season in scoring by a wide margin, averaging 34.6 points per game. She scores in many different ways, averaging 1.4 threes per game and getting to the free throw line over 15 times per game. Beyer is also the team's leader in rebounds (8.1) and assists (3.1) per game this season.

The team as a whole is proficient at getting to the free throw line, attempting an average of just over 23 free throws a game. The Battlin' Bears will look to gain an advantage on the boards, as the Eutectics average just 27.1 rebounds per game, being outrebounded by their opponents by an average of 5.9 boards per game.

The Battlin' Bears will be UHSP's second top-25 matchup of the season, as they lost an overtime matchup with #24 Freed-Hardeman on October 28th. They will also take on #10 Vanguard in the Cactus Classic.

Preview - Benedictine University-Mesa

The Redhawks have begun their season 3-5 heading into the Cactus Classic. All three of their wins have been in conference play and they ride their three-game winning streak going into their matchup with Montana Western on Tuesday. Benedictine-Mesa shares one common opponent this season with the Battlin' Bears, as they have taken on Arizona Christian twice, falling in both matchups. The Battlin' Bears earned their second victory of the season with a 56-51 win over the Firestorm in early November.

The Redhawks are led by two players who score in double figures, as Cloud Community College transfer Alize Ruiz averages 16.4 points per game and returning senior guard Elise Young averages 15.3 points per game. Ruiz also leads the team in rebounding, grabbing an impressive 10.0 boards per game as a 5'8 guard.

Benedictine-Mesa's two big keys to victory this season have been the ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, as well as crashing the offensive boards to earn second-chance points. The Redhawks rank seventh in the NAIA as a team in free throw attempts (25.8) and made free throws per game this season (17.8). They also average over 13 offensive rebounds per game, with three players grabbing two or more offensive rebounds per game.

The Battlin' Bears will be Benedictine-Mesa's first top-25 opponent this season.

Preview - #2 Indiana Wesleyan University

The Battlin' Bears will conclude the week against the second-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats. They enter this weekend after taking down the previously #1-ranked Campbellsville University on December 9th. The Wildcats also have wins over #5 Carroll College, #23 College of the Ozarks, and RV Bethel University this season.

The Wildcats are led by junior guard Lilli Frasure, a 2022 Second Team All-American who is averaging 21.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior forward Jordan Reid averages 14.7 points and 3.7 steals per game and 2022 All-American Honorable Mention Jade Nutley averages 11.0 points, and 4.3 rebounds per game so far this season.

Indiana Wesleyan ranks 11th in points per game, 15th in assists, 3rd in steals per game, and 19th in the NAIA in forced turnovers per game in an impressive start to their season. Their lone loss this season has come to the #16-ranked University of Providence.

This is the first matchup between these two programs of all time. The Wildcats will also take on #10 Vanguard University in the Cactus Classic.

Print Friendly Version