Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's Basketball team looks to end a two game skid Thursday evening on John Q. Hammons Court in Bolivar as they battle Southwest Baptist in a 5:30 p.m. tilt.

Game Information
Date: Thursday February 9, 2017
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Bolivar, Mo.
Site: Meyer Sports Center/John Q. Hammons Court
Series Record: MSSU leads, 43-22

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

The Series
This is the 66th meeting between the Lions and SBU, the third longest running series behind Missouri Western (88) and Pittsburg State (88). The Lions lead the series against Southwest Baptist, 43-22. Southern took the first game last season 74-61 at home and SBU won in Bolivar 65-52 on Feb. 18.  The Lions lead the overall series with the Bearcats  in Joplin 28-5, but Southwest Baptist holds a slight lead in Bolivar, Mo. 17-15. SBU snapped the Lions 4 game win streak last season, however Southern is 5-2 in the last seven contests.  The Lions longest winning streak was 14 games to start the series, from Jan. 21, 1976 thru Feb. 3, 1989.  The longest winning streak for Southwest Baptist was six, from Jan. 7, 1998 thru Feb. 9, 2000.

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.

Southwest Baptist
Kelsey Keizer will begin her third year (2016-17) as the Head Coach of the Women's Basketball program after spending the previous three years as the top assistant coach. Last season, Kelsey led the Bearcats to their first winning season in eight years, and holds a career coaching record of 25-31 (15-26 MIAA).

Missouri Southern (11-11, 6-7 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
11 Jasmine Green G 5-6 Jr. 7.3 2.4 37 13 Katy, Texas
15 Chelsey Henry G 5-10 So. 10.1 3.7 31 20 Neosho, Mo.
21 Desirea Buerge F 6-0 So. 12.0 6.2 13 27 Webb City, Mo.
24 Deb Holcomb G 5-7 Sr. 16.2 3.3 46 27 Dallas, Texas
31 Jenson Maydew F 5-11 Jr. 8.2 6.0 27 9 Pratt, Kan.

Southwest Baptist (13-9, 5-8 MIAA)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Assists Steals Hometown
2 Megan Rosenbohm G 5-6 Jr. 16.9 3.9 48 33 Graham, Mo.
3 Caylee Richardson F 6-2 So. 11.3 7.3 23 13 Hesston, Kan.
4 Alex Botkin G 5-7 Sr. 6.1 3.0 65 31 Republic, Mo.
11 Morgan Henderson G 6-0 So. 6.0 2.9 27 7 Louisburg, Mo.
14 Aliyah Isaac G 5-9 Sr. 8.1 2.5 49 12 Chicago, Ill.

Quick Notes
Dialing Long Distance
The Lions have made a three pointer in 488 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 468 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading At The Half
The Lions led the game at the half in 12 of 22 games this season and are 9-3 in those games.

Sharp Shooting
Southern is 9-0 when out shooting their opponents this season.

Glass Cleaners
The Lions, as a team has out rebounded 11 of their 22 opponents this season and are 8-3 in those contests.

Friendly Confines of LPAC
Southern is 159-63 inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center since the 2001-02 season. 

Picking Pockets
When the Lions have more steals than their opponents they are 6-5 this season.

Supporting cast
Southern's bench  has outscored their opponents 13 times this season and the Lions are 9-4 in those contests.

Stat Rankings
The Lions are ranked 44th in all of NCAA D2 and 2nd in the MIAA in free throw attempts (478) and 25th in D2 and 2nd in the MIAA in free throws made (358). Southern is ranked 79th nationally and 4th in the MIAA in scoring offense with 73.3 ppg. The Lions are 30th in D2 and 4th in the MIAA in 3-point percentage (.361) Holcomb is 65th in D2 and 2nd in the MIAA in field goals made (133).