Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team looks to halt a two game skid as they host the Lincoln University Blue Tigers in a noon matchup on Robert Corn Court inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Game Information
Date: Saturday January 14, 2017
Tip-Off: 12:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center/Corn Court
Series Record: MSSU leads, 30-5

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 36th meeting between Southern and the Blue Tigers. The Lions holds a 30-5 advantage over Lincoln including an 13-4 record in Jefferson City. The Lions are 15-1 in Joplin against Lincoln and 5-1 inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center while, Southern leads the series 2-0 on neutral courts.  Since Lincoln rejoined the MIAA in 2010, Southern holds an 8-2 advantage over the Blue Tigers.  The longest winning streak for the Lions is 14 games and started with an 86-60 win on Jan. 13, 1990 in Joplin and lasted through a 74-64 win in Joplin on Dec. 20, 1997. After departing the MIAA for the Heartland Conference in 1999-2000 the two schools only met twice until the return of Lincoln to the MIAA. Those two meetings were both won by Southern, 63-58 in Joplin on Nov. 27, 1999 and an 81-44 win in Joplin on Nov. 29, 2002.

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.

Lincoln
Ayana McWilliams was named on May 2 as the next head women's basketball coach at Lincoln University. McWilliams spent the past five years as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate, an NCAA Division I program. This past season, McWilliams helped lead the Spartans to a program-record 22 victories as well as a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational tournament, USC Upstate's second postseason trip in the past three years. The Spartans won their first postseason game as a Division I team this spring and advanced all the way to the WBI semifinals.

Possible Starters
Missouri Southern (9-7, 4-3 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
2 Shannon Mitchell F 6-1 So. 3.8 3.4 15 6 Seligman, Mo.
15 Chelsey Henry G 5-10 So. 10.9 4.1 21 12 Neosho, Mo.
21 Desirea Buerge F 6-0 So. 11.5 6.0 8 19 Webb City, Mo.
23 Amelia Bramer G 5-10 R-Sr. 6.2 2.1 27 15 Mt. Vernon, Mo.
24 Deb Holcomb G 5-7 Sr. 16.6 3.1 33 22 Dallas, Texas

Lincoln (2-12, 1-6 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
1 Erica Gibbons F 6-0 Fr. 12.5 4.7 4 18 Atlanta, Ga.
22 Hunter Yoakum G 5-7 Sr. 14.6 4.3 42 18 Dixon, Mo.
23 Citlali Lopez G 5-7 Jr. 4.2 2.6 23 13 Whiting, Ind.
25 Azaria Nave G 5-6 Sr. 14.8 3.3 38 19 San Antonio, Texas
42 Tempary Gunter F 5-9 So. 3.1 3.2 8 12 Tuscumbia, Mo.

Quick Notes
Dialing Long Distance
The Lions have made a three pointer in 482 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 462 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading At The Half
The Lions led the game at the half in 8 of 16 games this season and are 7-1 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 16 opponents this season and are 6-2 in those contests.

Friendly Confines of LPAC
Southern is 157-61 inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center since the 2001-02 season. 

Picking Pockets
When the Lions have more steals than their opponents they are 5-3 this season.

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