Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team will open the 2017 portion of their schedule with a MIAA game at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. inside Bearcat Arena.

Game Information
Date: Thursday January 5, 2017
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Maryville, Mo.
Site: Bearcat Arena
Series Record: MSSU leads, 28-24
 

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

The Series
This is the 53rd meeting between Southern and Northwest Missouri. The Lions hold a 28-24 advantage in the series. Southern has a 16-8 record in Joplin, including an 11-5 record on Robert Corn Court inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, while Northwest holds a 14-12 advantage in Maryville and a 2-0 advantage in Kansas City and a 3-0 overall advantage in the MIAA Post-Season Tournament. The longest winning streak in the series for Southern is six games from Feb. 8, 1992 thru Jan. 25, 1995 and currently from Jan. 22, 2014. Northwest Missouri answered with a six game stretch of their own Jan. 31, 1996 thru Feb. 6, 1999. The Lions have won ten of the last 11 against Northwest Missouri, with the Bearcats lone win coming on March 5, 2013 in the first round of the MIAA Post-Season Tournament in Joplin. Southern has won the last four meetings inside Bearcat Arena and have swept NWMSU in their regular season meetings in the last five seasons.

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.

Northwest Missouri
Buck Scheel was named the eighth head coach in Northwest history on March 22, 2016. He served as the team's interim head coach for the final 18 games of the 2015-16 season. Prior to arriving at Northwest, Scheel worked three seasons as the top assistant at State Fair Community College (SFCC) in Sedalia.

Possible Starters
Missouri Southern (8-5, 3-1 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
2 Shannon Mitchell F 6-1 So. 3.8 3.5 13 5 Seligman, Mo.
15 Chelsey Henry G 5-10 So. 10.7 4.1 16 8 Neosho, Mo.
21 Desirea Buerge F 6-0 So. 11.4 6.2 7 18 Webb City, Mo.
23 Amelia Bramer G 5-10 R-Sr. 6.1 2.2 24 9 Mt. Vernon, Mo.
24 Deb Holcomb G 5-7 Sr. 16.5 3.3 24 17 Dallas, Texas

Northwest Missouri (5-6, 0-4 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
12 Mallory McAndrews G 5-7 So. 5.2 0.4 8 3 St. Joseph, Mo.
13 Taryne Shull F 6-0 Jr. 7.2 6.9 6 6 Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
15 Tanya Meyer F 5-10 Jr. 20.4 9.7 8 6 Sioux City, Iowa
34 Macy Williams G 5-7 So. 6.6 2.5 56 5 Tabor, Iowa
40 Jasmin Howe G 5-8 Sr. 14.7 3.9 23 7 Millicent, Australia

Last Time Out
Missouri Southern
The Missouri Southern women's basketball team utilized a 28-13 second quarter and cruised to an 86-70 victory over visiting Evangel on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center Saturday, December 31st. Southern was led offensively by Deb Holcomb as the senior scored 19 points on 6-11 shooting from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line. Chelsey Henry scored 17 points and added ten rebounds for the double-double, while Desirea Buerge had 14 points and seven boards. Julianna Wadsworth added nine points, while Jasmine Green and Amelia Bramer scored eight points each.

Northwest Missouri
The Northwest Missouri State University women's basketball team fell to Northeastern State, 72-58, on Saturday at the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah, Okla. The Bearcats fall to 5-6 on the year and 0-4 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks improve to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in conference action. Jasmin Howe scored a game-high 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She was 3-of-8 from long range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She added five rebounds and an assist.

Quick Notes
Dialing Long Distance
The Lions have made a three pointer in 479 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 459 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading At The Half
The Lions led the game at the half in 6 of 13 games this season and are 6-0 in those games.

Sharp Shooting
Southern is 6-0 when out shooting their opponents this season.

Glass Cleaners
The Lions, as a team has out rebounded 9 of their 13 opponents this season and are 7-2 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 4-2 this season.

Supporting cast
Southern's bench  has outscored their opponents seven times this season and the Lions are 6-1 in those contests.