ROLLA, Mo. - The Missouri S&T women's basketball team opens its 2022-23 season at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Classic facing the host Rangers at 2 p.m. Friday and the Cavaliers of Walsh University on Saturday at 12 p.m. in Alfred & Bernice De Simone Arena. 

On November 2, the women's basketball team played an exhibition game against Missouri State University where the Bears earned the 58-44 victory in Springfield, Mo. Alex Kerr (St. Louis, MO/St. Joseph's Academy) finished the contest with 15 points and seven rebounds while Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) tallied 14 points and four steals.  

On November 6, the Miners traveled to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for a second exhibition game where S&T rallied late in the fourth quarter to get the 82-79 victory; their first victory over a Division I opponent since 2004. Rodriguez led four Miners in double figures with 22 points, while Kristen Keys (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy) added 16, Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) contributed 15 and Kerr notched 12 as she also finished with a double-double by pulling down 13 rebounds. 

Last season, Rodriguez and Kerr both earned All-GLVC Second Team selections. Rodriguez averaged 14 points per game while recording 3.3 rebounds per game in all 27 games. Kerr finished the 2022 campaign averaging 14 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 29 blocks and led the team with 170 rebounds and six double-doubles. 

The Miners were picked seventh in the pre-season Great Lakes Valley Conference Poll with 75 points. The Miners beat the teams picked fourth, fifth, and sixth last season, with victories over Lewis, Rockhurst, and Indianapolis. 

About the Opponents:
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers enter the game picked fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason polls after a 15-14 season a year ago . On November 1, the Rangers played an exhibition game against Northwestern University where the Wildcats earned the 88-72 victory. Leading the Rangers in scoring was Alyssa Nelson with 13, McKenna Armstrong added 12 while Kayla Bohr notched 10 points.   

Nelson is the top returning scorer for the Rangers as she averaged 20.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season while shooting 90 percent from the free-throw line. In GLIAC play, Nelson averaged 20 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and shot 44 percent from behind the arc.  

The Walsh University Cavaliers enter the season picked to finish third in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference preseason polls. Last season, Walsh finished the season 28-5 record and reached the Midwest Regional Championship game, where it lost to Grand Valley State.   

Morgan McMillen is the top returning scorer for the Cavaliers as she averaged 14.8 points per game and nine rebounds per game while shooting 76 percent from the free-throw line. She is the lone double figure scorer returning for the 2022-23 season.   

Milestones in reach for the 2022-23 season:
Rodriguez has made 139 career three-point baskets which is 12 behind Janie Arand for fourth place. Kerr is currently fifth on the Miner's career rebounding list, needing five to tie Leah Kessenich for fourth place. In addition, Kerr only needs 14 more made field goals to tie Hailee Parks for seventh place. Kerr enters the 2022-23 season needing 225 rebounds to tie Tanya Hough's all time record of 913. She can reach this milestone if she averages just over eight rebounds per game during the regular season.