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Women’s Basketball Hosts Ecclesia and Spalding in Nonconference Home Stand

12/8/2025 2:19:00 PM

By: Madelyn Stephen, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T women's basketball returns to Gibson Arena this week for a pair of nonconference matchups, hosting Ecclesia College on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. and Spalding University on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. Wednesday's matchup will feature the Ugly Christmas Sweater Game, and fans are encouraged to donate canned goods at the door as part of the Canned Food Drive.

About the Miners
Missouri S&T enters the week 3–4 overall (1–2 GLVC) after opening conference play with a win at Lincoln before competitive road battles at Quincy and Upper Iowa. The Miners continue to show strong scoring balance, led by Norah Gum (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo), who averages a team-high 12.9 points per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and pulling down 5.4 rebounds per contest.

Anna Finley (Owensville, MO/Owensville) adds 11.0 points per game, shooting 88.9% at the free-throw line, and Ava McCulla (St. Louis, MO/Parkway South) has emerged as the team's top rebounder with 7.3 boards per game to go along with 9.1 points, shooting an efficient 50.0% from the floor. Anna Gilbertson (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) remains another steady contributor at 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, hitting nearly 49% of her attempts.

As a team, S&T averages 66.0 points per game, shoots 40.1% from the field, and owns a strong +8.4 rebounding margin, pulling down 42.9 rebounds per contest. Defensively, the Miners average 7.4 steals and 2.9 blocks per game, while holding opponents to 36.0% shooting from the field.

About the Royals
Ecclesia (1–9) comes to Rolla seeking to rebound after a 44–88 loss to Central Baptist on Dec. 4. The Royals have struggled to generate consistent offense, averaging 40.1 points per game while shooting 29.1% from the field and 18.8% from three.

Lillie Taylor leads Ecclesia with 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while Kaidence Prendergast adds 7.6 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Turnovers have been a major challenge; Ecclesia averages 30.7 per game, creating extra possessions for opponents. The Royals are also being outscored by more than 40 points per game, making Wednesday a key test against a structured S&T defense.

About the Golden Eagles
Spalding (4–6, 1–2 SLIAC) enters the weekend after splitting two games, defeating Mississippi University for Women 66–54 before falling to Lyon 77–84. The Golden Eagles average 63.5 points per game and pull down an impressive 46.4 rebounds per contest, one of their statistical strengths.

Spalding is led by Zaneiya Batiste, who averages 11.7 points and a dominant 18.0 rebounds per game, one of the highest rebounding averages in the nation at any level. Gabby Douglass adds 11.2 points per game, while A'Nieja Russell contributes 9.2 points.

The Golden Eagles average 9.1 steals per game, but also turn the ball over 21 times per contest.

What's Next
The Miners return to GLVC play following the nonconference home stand, hosting William Jewell on Friday, Jan. 2, at 5:30 p.m. and Truman State on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at Gibson Arena.

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Women’s Basketball Hosts Ecclesia and Spalding in Nonconference Home Stand