Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team wraps up its two-game road trip tomorrow against Lincoln at 1:00 pm.
 
Game Information
Date:  Saturday January 5, 2018
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.  
Site: Jason Gym
Series Record: MSSU, leads 33-5
 
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://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
 
 
Picking Up the Scent: Five Components on Opponents 
Lincoln

• Picked to finish last in the MIAA preseason poll
• National Rankings (301schools):
  • 15th in rebound margin 10.6)
  • 21st in scoring defense (56.0)
  • 23rd in in scoring margin (16.6)
  • 29th in field-goal percentage (.450)
• Return four players from last year's squad, including senior Bre Coleman who led the Blue in Tigers in scoring (10.7) and rebounding (7.7) while sophomore Faith Brintle finished second on the team in scoring (10.4)
• Began the season on a seven-game winning streak, but has compiled a 2-3 record sense that time with two losses against MIAA opponents (Missouri Western/Pittsburg State)
• Searching for the program's first winning season since 2011-12 when the Blue Tigers recorded a 15-13 overall record

 
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 second in points per game (16.8) and fifth in shooting percentage (.432).
 
Welcome to the Club
Henry soared over the 1,000 career-point barrier against Illinois-Springfield and now stands in 13th on the MSSU All-Time scoring list with 1, 038 after posting two 22-point performances and a 14-point performance in between and passing Sonya Harlin (1,022). She is now 75 points away from catching up to Caryn Shumaker (1,113) and then 102 off Becky Fly (1,140).
 
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 two categories. They rank 13th in total rebounds (571) and 17th in rebound margin (10.4). A front court presence of 5'10 Chasidee Owens (95), 6'2 Jordan Schoenberger (89), and 6'3 Zoe Campbell (72) have thought for 256 of the team's 571 rebounds with seven double-digit stretches between the trio. Owens (7.3) and Schoenberger (6.8) stand in the top-ten in rebounds per game in ninth and 11th 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 return home for a battle with defending NCAA champions Central Missouri on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 pm.