Basketball Game Preview: Mt. Olive Wildcats vs. Southwestern Piasa Birds + How To Watch

Mt. Olive and Southwestern are an even 4-4 against one another since November of 2016, but not for long. The Wildcats will head out on the road to take on the Piasa Birds at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.

While Mt. Olive didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They came out on top against Lincolnwood by a score of 49-38 on Monday.

Lauren Bailey

Points

12/08/25 vs Lincolnwood	17
11/25/25 @ Bunker Hill	18
11/22/25 vs East Alton-Wood River	24
11/20/25 @ Roxana	23
11/18/25 vs Metro-East Lutheran	28

It was another big night for Lauren Bailey, who posted 17 points in addition to seven steals and six rebounds. The matchup was her fifth in a row with at least 17 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Alyssa Aubuschon, who had 13 points and five boards.

While Southwestern didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-22), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They strolled past Bunker Hill with points to spare on Monday, taking the game 52-34. The Piasa Birds pushed the score to 42-19 by the end of the third, a deficit the Minutemen cut but never quite recovered from.

Mt. Olive better keep an eye on Vivian Zurheide. She was instrumental in Southwestern's win, dropping a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Those 21 points gave Zurheide a new career-high. Josie Hagen was another key player, putting up seven points and 11 boards.

Mt. Olive's record is now 4-1. As for Southwestern, their record now sits at 5-1.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Mt. Olive has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Southwestern struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27.3 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Mt. Olive didn't have too much breathing room in their game against Southwestern when the teams last played back in January, but they still walked away with a 46-42 win. Do the Wildcats have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Piasa Birds turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.