JOPLIN, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team looks to carry its momentum from a 94-90 double-overtime victory against Lincoln on Thursday into a MIAA battle against the Lindenwood Lions inside Leggett & Platt coming off their first conference loss to Pitt State.
 
Game Information
Date: Saturday December 9, 2017
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.  
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: MSSU: leads 9-2
                           
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 103.5 FM, and AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS
Audio:  http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WMBH
Webcast: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/mssu/wbball

The Series vs. Lindenwood
This is the 12th meeting in the battle between the Lions as Southern holds a 9-2 advantage over Lindenwood. MSSU held a 9-0 record and 4-0 at home against LWU in Joplin until last season where the Lindenwood took both meetings, including a two-point victory over the Southern in Leggett and Platt. Junior forward Desirea Buerge averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against LWU last season, while senior guard Jasmine Green recorded double-figure scoring ten and 11 points in the two contests. R-Junior guard Dru Clark added ten points in the teams only meeting during the 2015-16 season before red-shirting last year. Since joining the MIAA, Lindenwood is 2-6 against Missouri Southern and 1-2 inside LPAC.
 
Possible Starters

Missouri Southern (2-7, 1-2 MIAA)
No.             Name                                            Pos.            Ht.             Yr.              PPG        RPG           Assists       Steals        Hometown
1                Dru Clark                                       G                5-7             R-Jr            8.6            4.0             18                  6             Collinsville, Okla. 
3                Julianna Wadsworth                     G                5-8             Sr.               4.2            2.0             12                10              Oswego, Ill.
15              Chelsey Henry                              G                5-10           Jr.              15.4           3.3             19                  6               Neosho, Mo. 
21              Desirea Buerge                             F                6-0             Jr.              19.8           8.8               4                  4              Webb City, Mo.
31              Jenson Maydew                            F                5-11           Sr.              11.6           9.0             11                  2                Pratt, Kan.

Lindenwood (7-1, 0-1 MIAA)
No.             Name                                   Pos.            Ht.             Yr.              PPG            RPG           Assists       Steals        Hometown
2                Charisse Williams                   G                5-8             Jr.              5.9             2.9                  13              6            Orlando, Florida
25              Kallie Bildner                           F                6-3             So.             20.5           12.9                4              10           Waynesville, Mo.
30              Lindsay Medlen                      G                5-8             So.             9.0             2.1                 40              3              Crocker, Mo.
32              Megan Foster                         G                5-10           So.             5.3             3.6                  18             5             Jefferson City, Mo.
33              Lexie Moe                               F                5-11           Jr.              8.4             4.0                    13           16           Dardenne Prairie, Mo
 
 
Quick Notes
Veteran Leadership
MSSU returns seven players from last year's squad (three seniors and four juniors) to provide leadership for one sophomore and five freshmen entering their first season with the Lions.

MIAA Pre-Season Poll
The Lions were selected to finish 11th in the conference entering the 2017-18 season. No. 13 ranked Central Missouri received the most first-place votes, followed by the 2016-17 regular season champion Pittsburg State who was picked second. No. 11 ranked and winner of the last five MIAA tournaments Emporia State was picked third by the coaches and media back in mid-October.

Henry the 15th I am I am
Junior guard Chelsey Henry has scored rapidly out of the gate, currently second on the squad in scoring through nine games at 15.4 ppg (42-percent), including a career-high 26 points at Harding. Henry is coming off the 2016-17 season as the third leading scorer for the Lions (10.3) and is currently 6th in the MIAA in scoring, while registering 32.6 minutes per contest for seventh in the MIAA. 
 
Let the Buerge Hit The Floor
Since returning to game action, junior forward Desirea Buerge has played out of her mind for the Lions thus far by leading the team in points 19.8 (50-percent) in five games after matching a career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds versus Lincoln for her third game with over 20 points and 10 rebounds. She now has three double-doubles on the season. Buerge finished last season averaging 12.8 ppg for second on the team and 16th in the conference.

She Works Hard for the Rebound
Senior forward Jenson Maydew moved up two spots on the MIAA rebounding leaderboard to be ranked 6th (9.0) after registering her fourth game of ten rebounds or more in the victory over Lincoln (10 rebs), while accumulating 34.2 minutes per game for second in the MIAA and one of three to average over 34 minutes of playing time thus far. Jenson still sits with two double-doubles on the season in search of number three to set a career-high in her favor.

Welcome Back Fritz  
Missouri Southern Women's Basketball head coach Ronnie Ressel announced the addition of former Lion Kelby Fritz to the coaching staff for 2017-18. Fritz began her playing career at Missouri Southern State University (09'-12') where she averaged 10 points per game. She continued her collegiate carrier in 2012 at Rogers State University. After college, Fritz helped Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) to a National Junior College (NJCAA) Division 1 Region 2 and District B title this past season. The 29-3 Lady Norse entered the national tournament as the 11 seed and defeated 22nd seeded Iowa Western 73-47 in the opening round at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas. While at NEO, Fritz was responsible for game preparation, scouting, game day duties, recruiting, strength and conditioning, and all aspects of team travel for the Lady Norse.

International Love 
Coach Ressel and his staff went outside the country on the recruiting trail as they signed two freshmen from overseas. 6'3 center Zoe Campbell comes way of Australia, while 5'7 guard Ines Catalan Mateos is from Spain. Both have seen in 17 games combined and started in four games each. Campbell leads the team with seven blocks for 16th in the MIAA and tied for second with five steals, while Catalan has scored 34 total points in 141 minutes.

Up Next
The Lions continues their six-game home stand against non-conference opponent Missouri S&T on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 pm before taking 11 days to prepare for a match up with Graceland on Dec. 30.