Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team (12-10, 4-8 MIAA) returns home to face off against the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (12-8, 5-6 MIAA) tomorrow at 5:30 pm.  
 
Game Information
Date:  Thursday February 7, 2019
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett and Platt Athletic Center  
Series Record: MSSU, leads 19-15
 
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio:  Fox Sports Joplin 101.3 FM, 107.9 FM, AM 1560, 1340 AM; 88.7 FM KXMS
Audio:  http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WMBH
Webcast: http://themiaanetwork.com/mssulions/
Live Stats: https://mssulions.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
 
 
Picking Up the Scent: Five Components on Opponents
Nebraska-Kearney  

• Picked 9th in the MIAA preseason poll
• National Rankings (301 schools - Top-50):
  • 42nd in field goal percentage offense and defense (43.5/36.6)
  • 50th in rebound margin (5.3)
• Return only three players, including All-MIAA recipient in sophomore guard Kelsey Sanger (HM) who is second on the team in points per game (10.7)
• The team scored its first 20-win season since the 2008-09 season and 17th time in program history
• In her first season at the Helm of the Lopers, head coach Carrie Eighmey led them to their first winning season since 2009 and previously cumulated a 96-61 record at NAIA Hastings College while winning 20-plus games in two out of three seasons there

 
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) moved up a spot into the top-5 and UCM (21) jumped two spots while Lindenwood continues to receive votes 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 now tied for first in the MIAA averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 42.0 percent from the field to move up one to third in the conference.
 
Welcome to the Club
Henry soared over the 1,000 career-point barrier against Illinois-Springfield and now stands in 11th on the MSSU All-Time scoring list with 1,198 after scoring 24 points against Northwest Missouri State last Saturday trailing Erin Rice (1,220) by 22 points for a spot in the top ten. 
 
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 second toughest schedule going forward according to NCAA statistics. The Lions' future opponents currently have a combined record of 112-33, calculating the highest winning percentage of .772. Fellow MIAA members Northeastern State (2) and Pittsburg State (5) also fall into the top-ten as well.  
 
Among the 17% (Top-50 out of 301 teams)
30th in rebounds                         (885)
31st in blocks                                 (89)
47th free throws made                  (305)                           
49th free throw attempts                (439)
50th in blocks per game                 (4.0)
 
Up Next
Lions prepare for battle with No. 5 Fort Hays State this Saturday, February 9 at 1:30 pm as part of the official Pink Game.