The Tiffin University women's basketball team will face McKendree to open the 2021 season on Friday, Nov. 12 with a 2 p.m. tip-off. Then, the Dragons come up against Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, Nov. 13 at noon.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (0-0, 0-0 GMAC)
At McKendree Bearcats (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Friday, Nov. 12 | 2:00 p.m.
Lebanon, Ill. | Melvin Price Convocation Center
At Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 12:00 p.m.
Lebanon, Ill. | Melvin Price Convocation Center
Dragon Details:
Last season the Dragons enjoyed one of the most historic seasons since the program's inception. The team finished 18-9, the second-highest win total in school history following the 21-7 campaign of 2011-12 and equaling the 18-9 mark of the 1990-91 Dragons.
Tiffin is bringing back several key returners including First Team All-Conference selection Aarion Nichols who led the team in points and assists with 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, and Second Team All-Conference selection Savanah Richards with 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Jada Tate recorded 9.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds, Jasmine Watts tallied 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, and Jessica Chase had 4.1 points and 1.2 assists. All played in 20+ games for the Dragons last season.
The incoming freshmen include Brooklyn Gammon, Brianna O'Connor, Dana Rose, Kaitlyn Moeller, Presley Feltner, and Lyndee Ward.
Scouting the Bearcats:
The Bearcats posted an 8-13 record last season in a conference-only schedule, missing the GLVC tournament.
McKendree is led by Sydney Diekhoff who last year averaged 16.8 points shooting 38.1 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals, Christy Fortune recorded 13.0 points shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 46.3 from beyond the arc, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.85 steals per game, and Jenna Krause registered 7.7 points shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from three-point range, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.95 steals per game.
The all-time series between the two teams is tied at 1-1, with the last meeting coming on November 9, 2019, when the Bearcats won 84-77.
Scouting the Prairie Stars:
The Prairie Stars finished the season with a 10-11 record, which was their best conference mark since joining the GLVC, and their second-best winning percentage of their NCAA era.
Leading the UIS offense is Lauren Ladowski who averaged 18.1 points shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 22.7 percent from beyond the arc, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 steals, Malea Jackson tallied 14.2 points shooting 36.2 percent from the field, 37.1 from three-point range, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals, and Ellie Mitchell recorded 6.7 points, shooting 39 percent from the field, and 30 percent from beyond the arc, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Illinois-Springfield leads the all-time series against the Dragons 2-0, with their last meeting coming on November 8, 2019, when the Prairie Stars won 76-73.