KIAC Basketball Game of the Week: (RV) Asbury (Ky.) vs. #23 IU Northwest
KIAC Basketball Game of the Week: (RV) Asbury (Ky.) vs. #23 IU Northwest
LIVE VIDEO (Stretch Internet) / LIVE STATS (Dakstats)
WILMORE, Ky. -- The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is excited to introduce the KIAC Basketball Game of the Week with the first installment featuring women's basketball with KIAC favorite (RV) Asbury (Ky.) University taking on No. 23 IU Northwest on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. in Wilmore, Ky.
Asbury enters the game at 4-4 overall having played a battle-test schedule versus NAIA Top 25 teams, and that continues Friday. IU Northwest is 7-2 overall and rated No. 23 in this week's NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll. Asbury is "receiving votes" at No. 29 overall.
Follow the game with live video on Asbury's Stretch Internet portal and live stats via Dakstats. Below is a game preview courtesy of Asbury sports information.
About the KIAC Basketball Game of the Week:
The KIAC Basketball Game of the Week will be selected on a weekly basis by the KIAC office. The Game of the Week will alternate between men's and women's basketball week by week for the pre-conference schedule and will expand to both genders if the schedule provides. Consideration for the KIAC Game of the Week choice is given to marquee matchups within or outside of the conference, especially those involving NAIA Top 25 teams.
GAME PREVIEW
WILMORE, Ky. - After the sun sets on Saturday the Asbury women's basketball team will have played twice hoping to get back on the right side of .500 and knock off a top-25 team in Indiana-Northwest, who is ranked 23rd in the most recent NAIA polls. The Eagles will host two teams for the weekend in the 20th annual tournament that now holds the Zweifel/Pritchett Classic title.
The tournament consists of two days of both men's and women's contests. Friday's festivities will open with a game between the women of Shawnee State and Miami-Middletown at 2 p.m. followed by Fisk and Berea at 4 p.m. in men's action.
The Eagles' weekend schedule includes a game Friday against IU-Northwest at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday against Miami-Middletown at 4:00 p.m. Both game will be streamed live on Stretch Internet for free and will be produced by Asbury's media communication department and will feature a full pregame and halftime show and multiple cameras.
Friday's game will also be the feature contest for the KIAC this week as the KIAC Game of the Week.
Fans attending the game can expect to pay $5 at the door for admission to the event per day. Asbury students with ID and children ages 12 and under will be admitted for free.
EAGLES' LAST TIME OUT
Asbury traveled to NAIA Division I Lindsey Wilson prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and returned with a lopsided loss 96-71. Catie Fletcher and Brittany Warren combined for 44 points but the host Blue Raiders had five players in double digits and shot a blistering 59.7% from the field for the win.
IN THE POLLS
The Eagles have endured a brutal start to the 2015-16 season and came out 4-4 with losses to three top-25 teams in both the NAIA D1 and D2 and another NAIA D2 program. During that eight-game stretch the Eagles sat at No. 22 in the NAIA D2 polls.
In the newest polls, released Tuesday night, the Eagles slipped a bit after the, perhaps, deceiving start. They now sit in the receiving votes category just outside the top-25. It's the 10th week they've been in the NAIA polls receiving votes.
SCOUTING THE NO. 23 REDHAWKS
The RedHawks are off to their best start in team history at 7-2 and are fresh off an upset of 9th ranked Marian University in their last contest. They also sit in the NAIA Polls at No. 23, entering the polls for the first time since 2011.
The RedHawks are led in scoring by Nicki Monahan's 19.5 PPG. The junior guard sits 12th in the NAIA for scoring average and is 15th in three-point field goal percentage at 47.4 percent.
The Eagles and RedHawks will meet Friday for the first time ever.