They average more than 75 points per game, but defense lifted the Bearcats' women's basketball team to a 3-0 start going into Tuesday night's game against Missouri-St. Louis.

"We've really taken three teams out of their offense, and that's what you strive to do," said women's coach Gene Steinmeyer.

The Bearcats defeated Upper Iowa 75-64, Missouri Valley 76-45 and William Jewell 75-58, with the past two victories coming in their own Winstead-Reeves Classic. And the guards were a big part of those three victories.

Junior transfer Gabby Curtis, in fact, was named the most valuable player of the Winstead-Reeves Classic, averaging 5.5 rebounds and logging six steals along with her 17-point average.

The guard play showed a huge turnaround from last season. Abby Henry looks quicker after struggling last year, while the addition of Curtis provided another spark.

"My problem last year was that I couldn't match up with quick guards," Steinmeyer said. "This year, I've got three guards that can really match up with anybody ... more than three, really."

Henry finally looks back in form after a devastating knee injury and subsequent surgery two seasons ago.

"Abby may not be the fleetest of foot, but she's got super quick hands, and she's in better shape this year, so she's a good defender," Steinmeyer said. "Gabby is just lightning quick, with hands."

Steinmeyer said freshman Monai Douglass, who comes off the bench, might be the best defensive player of them all, while sophomore Shelly Martin is another quick guard.

Freshman Ashley Thayer, although not as fast, is a smart defender, Steinmeyer said.

"I think we've got give guards that can really defend the perimeter," Steinmeyer said. "That's been a real plus for us."

Trying to help out

While the guards have played well offensively in victories against Manhattan Christian and Benedictine, Northwest men's basketball coach Ben McCollum said a little more unselfishness would be appreciated.

McCollum praised the defensive consistency of Girod Adams, and he cited DeShawn Cooper for opening things for everyone offensively. But the potential of the big man in the middle has not yet been realized.

"If we ever give him the ball, Maciej Ustarbowski has been pretty good as well," McCollum said.

McCollum said things came a little too easy offensively for the guards against Manhattan Christian, and that carried over into their effort in a 79-59 victory against Benedictine.

"They thought against Benedictine, 'Hey, let's just shoot a few shots and not work the offense," McCollum said. "We've worked on that this week."

Floyd out

Guard Edriss Floyd is out of the men's basketball lineup for an undetermined period of time after suffering a concussion in practice Sunday.

Floyd had scored a career-high 20 points against Manhattan Christian last Monday.

The senior guard, in his second year with the Bearcats as a transfer from Penn Valley Community College, averaged 13 points and three rebounds during the first two games, victories over Manhattan Christian and Benedictine.

Dietz earns honor

Northwest post player Gentry Dietz averaged 21.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in three games last week in earning MIAA Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors for the week of Nov. 15-21.

The award is selected by the conference sports information directors panel.

The junior from Omaha, Neb., scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Northwest's season-opening victory against Upper Iowa, when she went 13-for-15 from the free-throw line.

This was the first week for the award this season and Northwest's first in more than two seasons.

Dietz is getting to play after a more than two-year absence from the court because of transfer regulations and a knee injury suffered shortly before the start of last season.

"It's nice to see for Gentry," Steinmeyer said. "She's waited a long time to get on the floor, but now it's paying off for her."

Sports reporter Rick Dunaway can be reached at rickd@npgco.com