Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women's basketball team will look to even up the home stand record on Saturday (Jan. 11) when they host the Newman Jets at 1:30 p.m.. The Lions look to snap a three-game losing streak.
Game Information
Date: January 11, 2020
Tip-Off: 1:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo
Site: Robert Corn Court - Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series: Lions lead 5-1
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 107.9 and AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS
Audio: https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WMBH
Webcast: https://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions
Live Stats: http://www.mssulions.com
Lions on the Prowl
MSSU enters Saturday's contest with a 3-10 overall record and an 0-5 MIAA record. They are on a three-game losing streak, but chomping at the bit for their first confernce win of the season.
Destiny Cozart (15.5),
Chasidee Owens (14.8) and
Zoe Campbell (11.5) pace the Lions as the three players who average triple digit scoring in the 13 games this season. Campbell leads the team in rebounds per game (7.7) and blovks (42).
Keeping the Jets Grounded
The Newman Jets are 7-8 overall this season and 2-4 in the MIAA. They are on a two-game losing streak as they fell to Central Missouri, 62-59 and Pittsburg 81-69. Their conference wins have come over Lincoln (82-46 and Rogers State (76-57). The Jets look to take off with the shooting power of Kaitlyn Potter, who is the longe player to average double-digit points per game at 16.9. Her power comes from beyond the arch as she has hit 50 this season. Abbey George leads the Jets in rebounding at 4.0 rebounds per game.
Stop the Polls
The Lions were picked to finish 9th in the MIAA after going 14-16 overall and 6-13 in MIAA play during the 2018-19 campaign. Defending Conference Campions Fort Hays State was picked to win the MIAA with 10 first-place votes while Central Missouri received the other four first-place vote and was picked second. Washburn (3), Pittsburg State (4), and Emporia State (5) rounded out the top-5.
Send It Back
One goal that coach Ressel set for the Lions heading into the season was to improve on defense. Thus far as opponents try to shoot from the paint, the Lions have been preventing many shots from even reaching the rim with 77 combined blocks and a 5.9 average per contest for seventh and fourth in the nation, respectively. Both marks also place them first among MIAA programs with Northwest Missouri trailing by 20 (57) in second.
Front and Center... and Sending it Back
After observing as a freshman and figuring things out on the court as a sophomore, junior center
Zoe Campbell from Caloundra, Australia has become a force in the front court. Campbell ranks fifth nationally in total blocks (42) and fifth in blocks per game (3.2) while leading the MIAA in both categories. With two bloacks on Thursday, she second in all-time in career blocks (93), just 16 away from the all-time record of 109 by Caryn Schumaker (87-91). She is now tied with Brianna Volmer (2005-06) for the top single-season mark in MSSU history. She set the school record for blocks in one game (7) at Harding. She is also seventh in the MIAA in rebounds per game (7.7) with 74 defensive that ties her fourth in the league.
Take the Long Way Home
Another dimension on the defense that MSSU wanted to sure up was around the perimeter and the team has certainly done its job by limiting opponents to 30.9-clip on 254 attempts from three-point range, which ranks ninth in the MIAA at three-point field-goal defense. The Lions defense is ranked seventh in total field-goal defense by holding opponents to 38.0 percent shooting from the field on 839 attempts.
Third From Three
In her second year at Southern, senior
Destiny Cozart has earned the sharpshooter medal for the Lions as she has hit 42 treys on the season to sit second in the MIAA. She was fire in the final 30 seconds of Monday's contest at Nebraska Kearney as she hit three triples in a 21 second span. Her 34.1 percent from deep has her fourth in the MIAA as she averages 3.2 triples per game.
Up Next
The Lions hit the road for three straight. They will play at Lincoln on Thursday (Jan. 16) at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Central Missouri on Saturday (Jan. 18) at 1 p.m. They will close out the road trip the following Saturday (Jan. 25) when they travel to Pittsburg State.
