NOTEBOOK (PDF)
Onward to League Play
The league's 90-game conference slate begins on Friday, Dec. 29, with four games on the calendar.
Quick Starts Crucial
Since 1982-83, just three teams (Missouri State, champions in 1998-99, 1994-95 and 1990-91; Drake, champions in 1996-97 and co-champions in 1987-88; and Evansville, a 2007-08 co-champion) have won at least a share of the regular-season title without winning its regular-season opener. In fact, 12 of the last 17 regular-season champs (or co-champs) have opened 2-0 or better in MVC play, with Evansville in 2007-08, Missouri State in 2004-05, UNI in 2010-11, Missouri State in 2011-12 and UNI in 2015-16 serving as the only five exceptions.
Title Town
The league has had nine different regular-season champions in the past 11 seasons (SIU-2007, DU/UE/ILS-2008, ILS-2009, ILS-2010, UNI-2011; MSU-2012; WSU/CU-2013; INS/WSU-2014; WSU-2015; UNI-2016; DU-2017). Bradley, Loyola and Valparaiso are the only league teams not to have won a regular-season MVC championship.
Bite Out of Little Apple
UNI claimed its second-straight win over Kansas State with a 72-71 win in Manhattan. The Panthers have now won two games against Big 12 opponents and currently have the 18th ranked strength of schedule according to WarrenNolan.com. UNI’s non-conference opponents currently have an overall record of 65-33 (.663), which ranks 15th nationally.
Another Power Five Win
The Missouri Valley Conference recorded four wins over Power Five opponents during non-conference play this season. Last season, the MVC finished the non-conference schedule with six wins over members of Power Five conferences.
MVC Wins over Power Five Teams:
Nov. 14 Iowa State at UNI, W, 57-53
Nov. 30 Iowa State at Drake, W, 83-80
Dec. 16 Northwestern at Missouri State, W, 90-59
Dec. 21 UNI at Kansas State, W, 72-71
Beach Classic Champs
Illinois State captured the title at the Beach Classic with a win over Northeastern Thursday. The win gave the Redbirds a winning non-conference season for the first time since 2012-13 (8-4). Simone Goods was named the tournament MVP, scoring 23 points with eight rebounds in the win over the Huskies.
Perfect at the ARC
Valparaiso (5-0) remains the only team in the MVC with an unblemished record on its home court this season. It’s the first 5-0 start at home for the Crusaders since 2007-08.
Stringing Wins Together
The Crusaders own a four-game winning streak, matching the program’s longest of the last 11 seasons. It’s the team’s second four-game winning streak in the last decade as Valparaiso also won four in a row in 2015-16. A win over Drake would give Valpo five straight for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Valpo, which finished the non-conference portion of the year undefeated at home for the first time since 2007-08, has already nailed down a winning record in December, the team’s first winning month during the regular season since December 2015. At 7-4, Valpo has its best record through 11 games since 2001 and its highest nonconference win total since 2006.
RPI Update
The latest installment of the NCAA RPI Report (Dec. 23) has five Valley teams that rank in the top-200, led by UNI at No. 107, Bradley at No. 147, Drake at 150, Southern Illinois at 186 and Missouri State at No. 191.
Milestone Win for Warren
UNI’s Tanya Warren is the longest tenured coach in the MVC and is climbing the career wins chart for both MVC-only wins and all-game victories. Warren tied Creighton’s Jim Flanery for fifth in MVC history following Thursday’s 72-71 win at Kansas State.
MVC Coaching Leaders, All-Game Wins
1. Cindy Scott, Southern Illinois (1983-98) 353
2. Cheryl Burnett, Missouri State (1988-02) 319
3. Jill Hutchison, Illinois State (1983-99) 277
4. Barbara Hilke, Eastern Illinois (1983-92) 231
5. Jim Flanery, Creighton (2003-13) 190
Tanya Warren, UNI (2008-present) 190
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Sr., G, UNI
UNI senior guard Kennedy Kirkpatrick scored a career-high 24 points off the bench to lead the Panthers to a road win over Power-Five foe Kansas State, 72-71 on Thursday night. The senior also made a career-high seven three-pointers, which was only one shy of tying the school record for a game. Kirkpatrick scored the go-ahead basket with 2:11 remaining in the game, before adding seven points in the final two minutes to lead the Panthers to victory. Kirkpatrick also added five assists and two rebounds. Kirkpatrick has now scored in double-figures six times this season.
Other Notable Performances: Vanessa Markert (BRAD); Becca Hittner (DU); Hannah Green (ILS); Wendi Bibbins (INS); Katie Salmon (LUC); Alexa Willard (MSU); Nicole Martin (SIU); Dani Franklin (VALPO)
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Simone Goods, Jr., F, Illinois State
Illinois State junior Simone Goods was named the Beach Classic MVP following the Redbirds’ championship win on Thursday. Goods led the Redbirds to their first pair of road wins this season as she racked up a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds against Long Beach State and led all scorers on Thursday with 23 points. Goods also added eight rebounds and one assist in Thursday’s win.
Other Notable Performances: Shunseere Kent (BRAD), Alexis Delgado (INS); Abby O’Connor (LUC); Brice Calip (MSU); Nicole Konieczny (VALPO)