Fresh off a perfect 4-0 performance a week ago, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will be back on the road this Wednesday as they travel to Sterling to tangle with the Warriors.
Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (8-8, 6-4), Sterling (7-9, 4-6)
- The Coyotes have lost four in a row and seven of eight to Sterling. They are 15-27 against the Warriors and 5-17 in games played in Sterling since 2005. Sterling won 76-57 last December in Mabee Arena and 76-66 last February in Sterling.
- The Warriors have lost four in a row including a 79-75 setback against Friends on Saturday in Wichita and lost to Bethel 87-85 last Wednesday in Sterling. They are the three-time defending KCAC regular-season champions (KWU won the 2019-20 title with Sterling second a game back).
- Korynn Clason, the lone returning starter from last season, leads the KCAC in scoring and is 10th in the NAIA at 21.3 points per game. She was named this week's KCAC Offensive Player of the Week having scored 40 against Bethel and 23 vs. Friends. She also averages a team-best 6.0 rebounds. Teammate Alissa Heskamp is third in scoring in the KCAC at 15.1 while Kali Briar averages 10.9 points.
- Sterling averages 69.5 points but allows 74.8 and is committing an average of 18.6 turnovers per game. The Warriors shoot 41.7 percent overall, 32.8 from the perimeter.
Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (12-4, 9-1), Sterling (9-6, 5-5)
- The Coyotes have won four of the last five and 14 of the last 16 against Sterling. The Warriors, though, upset them 75-66 in Mabee Arena in the first round of last year's KCAC tournament. The Coyotes won 81-54 last December in Salina and 87-69 in February in Sterling.
- The Warriors have lost three in a row including a 92-85 double overtime loss to Friends on Saturday in Wichita. They lost to Bethel 64-52 last Wednesday in Sterling and lost to Oklahoma Wesleyan 74-67 January 6 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
- Guards Mooch Austin (15.3) and Brandon Doss (11.4) are the top scorers. Forward Lucas Briar and guard Jayden Garrison also score in double figures (10.1 each). Sterling also has two players who stand 6-feet-10 - starting center Adel Mellack (3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and reserve forward Elias Ngoga (4.8 points, 5.3 rebounds).
- Sterling averages 77.5 points and leads the KCAC in 3-point shooting at 39.3 percent, 43.4 percent overall. Doss, Garrison, and Briar have made at least 30 3-pointers each this season. Opponents are averaging 73 points and shooting 41 percent.
LIVE COVERAGE
Radio coverage can be heard locally on KINA 910 AM/107.5 FM, and online at Salina Post. The online stream is also available at 910KINA.com.
Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame starting at 5:30 on Wednesday.