Daryle Tucker, M.S., M.Ed.

The @NWBearcatWBB team will play an exhibition game Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the Doane Tigers in Bearcat Arena. The Bearcats are guided by ninth-year head coach Austin Meyer. Northwest was tabbed finish fourth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. Northwest finished fifth last season in the final MIAA standings. The Bearcats have produced 15 or more wins in each of the last five seasons. Northwest returns 94.7% of its scoring from a season ago, led by double-digit scorers Bailey Birmingham (12.2 ppg) and Andrea Lopreato (10.4 ppg). Sadie Maas returns as the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Maas led the Bearcats in rebounding (8.4 rpg) and blocked shots (73). Birmingham and Maas each earned honorable mention all-MIAA status last season. Doane assistant coach Mallory McConkey suited up for the Bearcats from 2017-2021. McConkey tallied 1,116 points and grabbed 581 rebounds in 127 games for the Bearcats. She was a two-time honorable mention all-MIAA selection. McConkey is a native of Guilford, Mo., and went to South Nodaway High School. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

The @NWBearcat_FB team shifted to No. 6 in the second installation of the NCAA Division II NPI Super Region 4 Rankings. Northwest (6-1 overall, 5-1 MIAA) is among four MIAA teams in the top-10 in the region. Emporia State is No. 2, Northwest is No. 6, Central Missouri is No. 8 and Washburn is No. 10. The NPI rankings will determine playoff selection. The top eight teams will earn selection into the 2026 NCAA Div. II Playoffs. Conference champions from the MIAA, GAC, Lone Star and RMAC will receive automatic bids. The final four slots will be determined by the NPI. Northwest and Emporia State (8-0 overall, 6-0 MIAA) will collide Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Mo. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

Northwest Missouri State University senior Polina Gontaryk captured the ITA Central Regional women's tennis singles title as she knocked off top-seeded Mei Hasewega of Central Oklahoma in three sets. Gontaryk came from a set down in the final to take down Hasegawa to capture the championship. Hasegawa won the first set, 6-3. Gontaryk stormed back and won the second set, 7-5. Gontaryk and Hasegawa went the distance in the third set and had to decide it with a tiebreaker. Gontaryk won the tiebreaker, 8-6. Gontaryk will compete in the ITA Cup set for Nov. 4-8 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

SOC RECAP ||| NORTHWEST 5, ROGERS STATE 2 The @NWBearcatsoc team tied a program record with five first-half goals as the Bearcats rolled to a 5-2 MIAA win over the Rogers State Hillcats Sunday at home. Northwest has won three matches in a row and is 4-1-2 in its last seven matches to move into fifth place in the MIAA standings. Northwest is 5-8-3 overall and 5-4-2 in MIAA play. Rogers State is 5-8-3 overall and 3-7-1 in league matches. Northwest's five first-half goals tied the program record for most in history. Lydia McVey tied the single-game school record with three assists in the win over the Hillcats. McVey tied a mark set by Jordan Albright vs. Emporia State on Oct. 11, 2013. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

FB RECAP ||| NO. 11 NORTHWEST 27, NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 10 The No. 11-ranked @NWBearcat_FB squad put together a 27-10 road victory against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at Cope Stadium. The Bearcats used a career-high 160 rushing yards from Quincy Torry and a stingy defensive unit that limited UNK to 31 rushing yards and only 11 first downs. The Lopers went 2-of-16 in third-down conversions. Northwest improved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA. UNK dropped to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in the MIAA. The victory clinched the 31st consecutive winning season in program history, which is the longest active streak among NCAA Div. II schools. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

FB RECAP ||| NO. 12 NORTHWEST 24, FORT HAYS STATE 23 A trio of fourth quarter defensive stops allowed the No. 12-ranked @NWBearcat_FB team to gain a 24-23 road victory over the Fort Hays State University Tigers at Lewis Field Stadium. Northwest's Antwon Jenkins Jr. and David Jacquez deflected away a two-point conversion from FHSU, allowing the Bearcats to maintain a one-point lead with under two minutes left in the contest. Northwest's Delton Davis recovered an on-side kick attempt and ran all but 12 seconds off the clock before the defense made a tackle inbounds and the clock expired on FSHU's final drive. With 10:53 left in the fourth quarter, Northwest shut down a 4th-and-1 attempt by FHSU at the 11-yard line. Northwest scored on all four red-zone trips, converting them into two rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and a field goal. FHSU went 1-of-2 in the red-zone and could not convert on a two-point conversion. Northwest is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in MIAA play. FHSU is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in MIAA action. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB

FB RECAP ||| NO. 14 NORTHWEST 42, NO. 24 CENTRAL MISSOURI 20 The No. 14-ranked @NWBearcat_FB team won its eighth straight home game with a 42-20 dispatching of the No. 24-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. The Bearcats benefited from a three-touchdown game from running back Quincy Torry, a two-touchdown performance from tight end Trevor Spady and a 37-yard pick six from defensive back Baruch Hasabu to power past the Mules. Northwest is 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action. UCM is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play. The Bearcats are 10-1 when facing UCM with both teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 poll. The Bearcats ran for 279 yards and three touchdowns while their defense limited Central Missouri to 29 rushing yards. Northwest has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. bearcatsports.com/news/2026/… #OABAAB