KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State Women's Basketball team was listed as "under consideration" in the first NCAA Division II Midwest regional rankings that were announced on Wednesday. The Bulldogs were one of 10 teams listed alphabetically on the rankings and will look to bounce back after suffering their first and only home loss of the season by facing Quincy University on Saturday. The Bulldogs led by 19 points in the first half only to have things slip away in the second with Lewis taking a two-point lead with 23 seconds left. Gracie Stugart knotted the game at 79 with 22 ticks showing and the Bulldogs dodged a three-point winner in regulation. In overtime, Hannah Pinkston had the hot hand and was able to answer the onslaught by the Flyers to keep the game tied at 87.  Pinkston had all nine overtime points but again Lewis had the ball for the final possession. Kathryn Schmidt knocked down her third three-pointer of the period and scored 30 points for the game with the last coming as the buzzer sounding give the Flyers a split on the season series 90-87 over the Bulldogs. 

Quincy snapped a three-game losing streak with a 77-54 home win over William Jewell on Thursday night. The Hawks were led by Beth Matas Martin and Sarah Nelson, with each scoring 24 points. The Hawks are clinging to the eight spot for the postseason tournament and are in a three-way tie in the standings at 7-10 in the conference. 

The Bulldogs were in control for the most part in their 68-56 win over the Hawks in Pershing Arena back on January 5th. Hannah Belanger hit her season average of 24 points, making 10 of 15 field goal attempts while Stugart added 10 assists. Sarah Nelson led the Hawks with 17 points. It was the 11th straight victory by the Bulldogs over their neighbors from the east.

NCAA Regional Rankings:

The Bulldogs were listed in the first rankings for the NCAA Division II Midwest region. These rankings help shape the eight-team regional tournament field that will begin following the conference tournaments. The Midwest region is made up of three conferences, the GLVC, GLIAC and GMAC, with each league getting an automatic spot based given to their tournament champion and five "at-large" bids based on predetermined selection criteria. Teams will be listed in "rank-order" starting next Wednesday with the selections taking place on Sunday, March 5th. 

Of the 10 teams listed, Drury, Truman and Lewis are from the GLVC, Ashland, Kentucky Wesleyan, Malone and Trevecca Nazarene from the GMAC and Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech and Wisconsin-Parkside from the GLIAC.

Team Season Milestone Watch:

• The Bulldogs 79.1 scoring average currently ranks fourth all-time, the single season record is 84.4 points per game set in the 1989-90 season. 
• The team's .471 shooting percentage is currently tops all-time. The record is .469 set in the COVID shortened 2020-21 season and .454 set in 1998-99.
• The Bulldogs have already set a single-season record for three-pointers made with 247. The previous high mark was 236 in 2018-19.
• The team's 429 assists are three shy of entering the single-season top 10. The record is 515 set in1980-81 and the assist per game (17.2) is tied for fifth best with the record being 17.8 set in 1986-87.

Individual Season Milestone Watch:

• Hannah Belanger's 556 points scored is the third most in a season. The record is 638 held by Georgia Mueller (29 games) in 2007-08. Second is Carol Jarrard (29 games) set in 1981-82.
• The scoring average mark is also in jeopardy with Belanger sitting at 22.2 points per game while Mueller was at 22.0 in 07-08.
• Belanger owns the three-pointer made record with 87 as the previous record was 80 held by assistant coach Amy Briggs in 2013-14.
• Her .465 shooting behind the arc is well clear of Allie Norton's .452 mark set in 2012-13.
• Belanger leads NCAA Division II in triples made and is second in threes per game. Her 46.5 shooting mark is fourth in DII. 
• Gracie Stugart is seventh in single-season assists with 131. The record in 187 by Susan Thereof in 90-91. Stugart is seventh in DII in assist/turnover ratio and ninth in the country in total assists.

Career Milestones:

• Belanger owns the career three-point record with 282, is second in three-point attempts (704), points per game (17.5)and third in points scored (1,800) and field goals attempts (1407).
• Ellie Weltha is fourth all-time in rebounds with 814. Third place is Georgia Mueller with 876. Weltha's .570 career field goal shooting percentage currently holds the top spot of all players with a minimum of 200 made, the current high is .548 by Katie Jaseckas.
• While not counting on the Truman career lists, graduate transfer Alex Fanning has eye-popping career stats. Fanning has scored 1,251 points, pulled down 1,027 rebounds, blocked 260 shots and recorded 100 career steals. 

Truman Tidbits:

• Truman State has won 15 or more games for 12 straight years now with their current 17-8 record. They have won 10 or more league games for 13 straight seasons and have matched last year's 13 win GLVC total with their current 13-4 record.
• The Bulldogs have used the same starting lineup all season with Hannah Belanger, Hannah Pinkston, Alex Fanning, Ellie Weltha and Gracie Stugart making all 25 starts thus far.
• Claire Rake, Emma Bulman and Gracie Neff have each appeared off the bench in all 25 games. Rake is second in three-pointers made with 48.
• Maddie Niemeier has played in the last 12 straight after missing 10 of the first 13 games this season. 
• The Bulldogs have played four overtime games this season and are 2-2 in those contests. 
• The team has scored 80 points or more in 12 games this year and has a record of 9-3 in those games.
• Head Coach Theo Dean is fourth on the career coaching wins list at Truman with 72. His .693 winning percentage is tops among all 11 previous coaches. Dean's teams are 56-17 in GLVC games and 26-9 in conference road games.