Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team tips off the new year with a MIAA matchup against Lindenwood on tomorrow at 5:30 pm.
 
Game Information
Date:  Thursday January 3, 2018
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Site: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Series Record: MSSU leads, 11-3
 
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://lindenwoodlions.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
 
Picking Up the Scent: Five Components on Opponents 
Lindenwood

• Picked eighth in the MIAA preseason poll
• National Rankings (301schools):
  • 1st in field-goal percentage (51.1)
  • 2nd in rebound margin (13.1)
  • 35th in fewest fouls (160)
  • 38th in three-point field-goal percentage (35.8)
  • 50th in scoring offense (74.6)
• Return nine total players including All-Central Region and All-MIAA selection in junior forward Kallie Bildner (2nd both) who averaged a double-double last season, recording 17.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per game at 6'3. She currently shoots 68.5 percent from the field for second in the NCAA and also reached 1000 point in LWU's last contest at home on Dec. 17
• First-year head coach Katie Falco spent ten seasons as an assistant coach at Division I South Dakota State and earned four Summit League regular-season titles
• Plans on transitioning into the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and become the 16th member as well starting on July 1, 2019

 
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 (5) has moved up one spot while UCM (15), and ESU (23) remain in their same positions to begin the second half of the season in representing the MIAA in the coaches' National poll. Central Oklahoma drops out of the poll and still is receiving votes.  
 
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 has climbed up the conference leader board to fourth in points per game (16.2) and fifth in shooting percentage (.443).
 
Welcome to the Club
Henry soared over the 1,000 career-point barrier after scoring a team-high 22 points against Illinois-Springfield and a 14-point performance to get within six points (1,016) behind Sonya Harlin for 13th on the All-Time list (1,022).
 
It's not how high, but how you position yourself to possess the basketball 
The Lions have quietly outrebounded every single opponent but one through 11 games. Southern ranks in the NCAA Division II top-20 in three categories. They rank tenth in rebound margin (12.2), 17th in total rebounds (538), and 21st for rebounds per game (44.8). A front court presence of 5'10 Chasidee Owens (88), 6'2 Jordan Schoenberger (83), and 6'3 Zoe Campbell (66) have thought for 237 of the team's 538 rebounds with seven double-digit stretches between the trio. Owens (7.3) and Schoenberger (6.9) stand in the top-ten in rebounds per game in ninth and tenth respectively.
 
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).

Up Next
The Lions continue two-game road trip on Saturday versus Lincoln at 1:00 pm.