Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team looks to bounce back this Thursday evening as they return home to face Lindenwood University on Robert Corn Court inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at 5:30 p.m.

Game Information
Date: Thursday January 12, 2017
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center/Corn Court
Series Record: MSSU leads, 9-1

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: ESPN Joplin/Lions Sports Network
Internet Audio: mssulions.com
Webcast: portal.stretchinternet.com/mssu/
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/mssu/wbball

The Series
This is the 11th meeting in the battle between the Lions and Lady Lions as Southern holds a 9-1 advantage over Lindenwood. The Lions are 5-1 at St. Charles, while Southern is 4-0 in Joplin, including a 3-0 record inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Lindenwood won the earlier matchup this season in St. Charles 86-80 behind 24 points from Kallie Bildner. Missouri Southern's Deb Holcomb set a career-high in the loss with 35 points. Since joining the MIAA Lindenwood is 1-6 against Missouri Southern and 0-2 inside LPAC.

The Coaches
Missouri Southern
Ronnie Ressel is in his 15th year on the staff at Missouri Southern and his first year at the helm of the women's program. During his three years as an assistant for the women, Ressel had helped the team to a 58-30 record and a 38-22 mark in the MIAA. In 2015-16 the team saw two players earn All-MIAA status as Sharese Jones was a first-team selection, while Deb Holcomb was a third-team pick.

Lindenwood
Tony Francis is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Lindenwood women's basketball program in 2016-17. Francis turned the women's basketball program around in his first season, and then led the program through its transition to the NCAA Division II level. He enters the 2016-17 season with a head coaching record of 75-93.

Possible Starters
Missouri Southern (9-6, 4-2 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
2 Shannon Mitchell F 6-1 So. 3.8 3.4 14 6 Seligman, Mo.
15 Chelsey Henry G 5-10 So. 10.9 4.1 18 12 Neosho, Mo.
21 Desirea Buerge F 6-0 So. 11.5 6.0 7 18 Webb City, Mo.
23 Amelia Bramer G 5-10 R-Sr. 6.2 2.1 25 13 Mt. Vernon, Mo.
24 Deb Holcomb G 5-7 Sr. 16.6 3.1 29 18 Dallas, Texas

Lindenwood (5-8, 1-5 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
2 Charisse Williams G 5-8 So. 8.4 3.5 10 18 Ellisville, Mo.
11 Sara Ross G 5-10 So. 7.1 4.2 13 17 Naperville, Ill.
13 Beth Maenpaa F 6-0 Sr. 2.9 2.7 6 2 Reedsburg, Wisc.
15 Alex Haley G 5-8 Sr. 7.5 1.8 31 6 Libertyville, Ill.
20 Gabby Walker F 6-0 Fr. 11.3 4.8 7 13 St. Charles, Mo.

Last Time Out
Missouri Southern
The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team, plagued by turnovers, fell 77-65 to Missouri Western Saturday afternoon inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Lions shot 43.8 percent, 21-for-48, from the field while Missouri Western finished the game at 52.8 percent, 28-for-53. Holcomb led Southern with 18 points, while Buerge added 15 and Green tied her career-high with 12 points. Five Griffons scored in double figures with Julia Torres leading with way with 17 points.

Lindenwood
The Lindenwood women's basketball lost 74-58 to No. 20 Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon in Hyland Arena. Charisse Williams led the team with 11 points while Bre Zanders pitched in a team-high seven rebounds off the bench.  Lindenwood was impacted by its 29 turnovers and 64 percent free throw shooting.  The Lady Lion out rebounded the Bronchos 38-31 including 17 offensive rebounds.  Central Oklahoma was 16-of-22 from the free-throw line in the second half while the Lady Lions were just 9-for-13.  The Bronchos tallied 34 points in the paint to 28 for the Lady Lions.

Quick Notes
Dialing Long Distance
The Lions have made a three pointer in 481 consecutive games. The last time Southern did not make a shot from downtown was in a 68-53 loss to Southern Arkansas on Nov. 20, 1999.

Defensive Effort
The Lions have not allowed 100 points to an opponent since Emporia State defeated Southern 102-60 on Feb. 12, 2000. That is 461 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading At The Half
The Lions led the game at the half in 7 of 15 games this season and are 7-0 in those games.

Sharp Shooting
Southern is 7-0 when out shooting their opponents this season.

Glass Cleaners
The Lions, as a team has out rebounded 8 of their 15 opponents this season and are 6-2 in those contests.

Friendly Confines of LPAC
Southern is 157-60 inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center since the 2001-02 season. 

Picking Pockets
When the Lions have more steals than their opponents they are 5-2 this season.

Supporting cast
Southern's bench  has outscored their opponents nine times this season and the Lions are 7-2 in those contests.