The No. 14-ranked Raven women's basketball team returns home for the first time in over a month as they host Baker University in the 44th meeting between the two schools since Benedictine joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) for the 1992-93 season.
Benedictine holds a 33-11 lead in the series over that time and enters play tonight winners of four straight and five of the last six.
The Ravens suffered their first loss on Jan. 4 to Arizona Christian since losing to Northwestern (Iowa) in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium on Nov. 23 to snap a five-game winning streak.
The Wildcats enter play coming off a loss to Tabor College on Jan. 4 and split their two match ups at the Tabor Holiday Classic after beating Sterling College on Jan. 3.
GAMEDAY LINKS:
Radio - 93.7 FM or www.network1sports.com/station/kair
Video – BRSNtv, www.livestream.com/benedictineravensportsnetwork (Due to student still being on break, tonight's feed will be video only.)
Live Stats (courtesy of Dakstats) – www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Team/TeamPage.aspx?association=10&sg=WBB&sea=NAIWBB_2013&team=112
In-Game Updates – www.twitter.com/RavenGameDay
ABOUT BAKER:
Baker enters play at 9-5 overall and is 2-1 in the HAAC. ... The Wildcats garnered votes in the latest NAIA Div. I Top 25 poll that was released on Tuesday and are a half-game behind Benedictine and MNU in the conference standings. ... They are led in scoring by guard BriAnna Garza. She is averaging 14.5 ppg through 14 games and is also the team leader in assists with 74 and steals with 18. ... Garza is ranked ninth in NAIA Div. I in total assists and No. 11 in assists per game (5.3). ... In addition to Garza, post Macy Wallisch is among the NAIA leaders in blocks. She ranks fourth in blocks per game (2.5) and is fifth in total blocks (35). ... As a team, the Wildcats rank fifth in NAIA Div. I in total blocks (64). They are sixth in defensive rebounds per game (32.2), eighth in total rebounds per game (46.9) and ninth in blocks per game (4.6).
ABOUT THE RAVENS:
Benedictine continues to have a balanced offensive attack, led by the outside shooting of Justice Payne and post play of Chayla Rutledge. ... Payne leads the team with a 15.7 ppg average while Rutledge is close behind at 15.3. ... Payne ranks fifth in NAIA Div. I in 3-pointers (46) and sixth in 3-pointers per game (3.1). Rutledge is ranked 14th in field goal percentage (51.3 percent). ... Jackie Ziesel has been a spark for the Ravens off the bench through 15 games. She is averaging 10.6 ppg and is second on the team in 3-pointers with 20. ... As a team, Benedictine is ranked ninth in NAIA Div. I in 3-pointers (112) and ranks 12th in total scoring offense (1,150.)
UP NEXT:
Benedictine returns to the road on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game in Olathe against nationally-ranked MNU. Saturday Raven-Pioneer match up has been selected by the NAIA as it's Div. I Game of the Week. Look for more information about the match up on ravenathletis.com on Friday.
