Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team travels to Edmond, Okla. for a 1:30 pm battle tomorrow against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.
 
Game Information
Date:  Saturday January 19, 2019
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Edmond, Okla.  
Site: Hamilton Field House
Series Record: MSSU, leads 14-12
 
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS
Audio:  http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WMBH
Webcast: http://themiaanetwork.com/mssulions/
Live Stats: https://bronchosports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
 
 
Picking Up the Scent: Five Components on Opponents 
Central Oklahoma

• Picked Fifth in the MIAA preseason poll
• National Rankings (301 schools):
  • 22nd in 3-pointers made (132)
  • 37th in 3-pointers attempted (382)
  • 45th in 3-pointers per game (7.8)
  • 47th in total steals (157)
• Return nine total players, including All-MIAA honorable mention recipient senior guard Blake Blessington while losing seniors Melinda Murillo (1^st) and All-MIAA defender Jesheon Cooper (3^rd) along with Freshman of the Year Jo'Nah Johnson who transferred to NEO for her sophomore season
• Bring in three transfers including former Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year junior guard Micayla Haynes while playing for Arkansas-Fort Smith and averaging 10.0 points per game and leading the team with 63 three-point baskets along with 49 steals, forward McKenna Pulley from Northern Oklahoma for 12.0 points per game on 43-percent shooting from the field and grabbing 6.0 rebounds, and sophomore Kaci Richardson of the Seminole scoring 14.4 points and grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game together with a 33-point game against Kilgore
• Are currently on a four-game losing streak with losses to Northwest Missouri State (H), Nebraska-Kearney (A), Fort Hays State (A), and Pittsburg State (H)

Quick Notes
Stop the Polls 
The Lions were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA after going 11-17 overall and 8-11 in MIAA play during the 2017-18 campaign. Defending NCAA Champions Central Missouri was picked to win the MIAA with 13 first-place votes while Fort Hays received the remaining first place vote and was picked second. Emporia State (3), Washburn (4), and Central Oklahoma (5) rounded out the top-5. FHSU (3) moved up another spot while Lindenwood (24) cracked the top-25 for the first time this year with an 11-1 record. UCM dropped out, but is second in votes as Pittsburg State is the leading vote getter not ranked to round out the MIAA representation surrounding the National Coaches' poll.
 
Leader of the Pride 
Guard Chelsey Henry returns as the only senior from last year's squad and will be looked upon to make sure that all nine newcomers understand what it means to compete in what is the MIAA. After sitting out the first three games of the season, the Neosho native is currently the top scorer in the MIAA, averaging 18.1 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field for fourth in the conference.
 
Welcome to the Club
Henry soared over the 1,000 career-point barrier against Illinois-Springfield and now stands in 12th on the MSSU All-Time scoring list with 1,124 after scoring 13 points in an overtime game versus Northeastern State. She is now 16 away from tying Becky Fly (1,140) for 11th.
 
How many Transfers are we going to take before passing? FOUR!!! 
With eight players departing, the coaching staff mapped out the entire college basketball landscape in order to find four transfers and they did in the shape of 6'1 forward Laure Assena (Lipscomb University), 5'10 guard Chasidee Owens (Ouachita Baptist), 5'8 guard Destiny Cozart (John A. Logan), and 6'2 center Jordan Schoenberger (Independence CC).
 
To be the BEST, you have to BEAT the BEST!
As the Lions enter the second half of the 2018-19 season, they will have to prepare for the third toughest schedule going forward according to NCAA statistics. The Lions' future opponents currently have a combined record of 137-66, calculating to the third highest winning percentage of .675. Fellow MIAA members Lincoln (1) and Northeastern State (2) are the only teams with a
tougher schedule where opponents have a winning percentage of .722 and .699 respectively. Three other MIAA programs are in the top-ten, including Nebraska-Kearney (6), Pittsburg State (8), and Fort Hays State (9).

Among the 17% (Top-50 out of 301 teams)
11th in total rebounds                                                              (725)
25th in free throws made                                                         (251)
27th in rebound margin                                                            (7.7)
31st in total blocked shots and free throw attempts                 (68 / 353)
32nd in rebounds per game                                                     (42.65)
35th in defensive rebounds per game                                      (29)

Up Next
Women's Basketball returns home for two games beginning with a 5:30 pm matchup against Washburn on Wednesday (1/23) before welcoming in Emporia State for a 1:30 pm contest on Saturday (1/26).