Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern women's basketball team will get back into MIAA play this weekend as the Lions will travel to Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday and Monday.
Game Information
Date: January 4/6, 2020
Tip-Off: 2 PM/5:30 PM
Location: Hays, Kan./Kearney, Neb.
Site: Gross Memorial Coliseum/H&S Center
Series: FHSU leads 33-18/MSSU leads UNK 20-16
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
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.
| 1 |
Drury (13) |
8-0 |
563 |
1 |
| 2 |
Lubbock Christian (10) |
9-0 |
558 |
2 |
| 3 |
Grand Valley State |
9-0 |
531 |
3 |
| 4 |
Ashland |
8-0 |
502 |
4 |
| 5 |
Lee (TN) |
11-0 |
477 |
5 |
| 6 |
Saint Anselm |
7-0 |
460 |
6 |
| 7 |
Virginia Union |
7-1 |
411 |
9 |
| 8 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
9-0 |
391 |
10 |
| 9 |
California (PA) |
7-1 |
385 |
11 |
| 10 |
Alaska Anchorage |
9-1 |
345 |
12 |
| 11 |
Indiana (PA) |
8-1 |
317 |
13 |
| 12 |
Westminster (UT) |
10-1 |
272 |
17 |
| 13 |
North Georgia |
8-1 |
271 |
14 |
| 14 |
Hawaii Pacific |
8-1 |
245 |
20 |
| 15 |
Adelphi |
11-0 |
220 |
21 |
| 16 |
Fort Hays State |
7-2 |
201 |
19 |
| 17 |
Azusa Pacific |
7-2 |
190 |
8 |
| 18 |
Sioux Falls |
9-2 |
168 |
7 |
| 19 |
Anderson (SC) |
8-2 |
129 |
15 |
| 20 |
Emporia State |
7-2 |
119 |
23 |
| 21 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State |
8-2 |
110 |
25 |
| 22 |
UC San Diego |
6-2 |
101 |
22 |
| 23 |
Bowie State |
9-0 |
74 |
NR |
| 24 |
Cal State San Marcos |
8-1 |
62 |
NR |
| 25 |
Lindenwood |
5-0 |
61 |
NR |
Dropped Out: No. 18 Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-2); No. 16 West Texas A&M (9-3); No. 24 Minnesota State Moorhead (9-3).
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1) 39; Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-2) 35; Lincoln (PA) (10-1) 25; West Texas A&M (9-3) 23; Catawba (8-0) 22; Central Oklahoma (8-2) 20; Walsh (8-2) 14; Benedict (7-2) 13; Bentley (8-3) 13; Southern Nazarene (6-2) 13; Belmont Abbey (8-1) 10; University of the Sciences (7-3) 10; Minnesota Duluth (8-3) 7; Union (TN) (9-2) 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 66 combined blocks and a 6.6 average per contest for seventh and third in the nation, respectively. Both marks also place them first among MIAA programs with Central Missouri trailing by 18 (48) in second.
Front and Center
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 sixth nationally in total blocks (36) and fifth in blocks per game (3.60) while leading the MIAA in both categories. The Australia native currently stands second in all-time in career blocks (87) and set the school record for blocks in one game (7) at Harding. She is also fifth in the MIAA in rebounds per game (8.1).
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 30.2-clip on 202 attempts from three-point range, which ranks eighth in the MIAA at three-point field-goal defense. The Lions defense is ranked seventh in total field-goal defense by holding opponents to 37.7 percent shooting from the field on 658 attempts.
Picking Up the Scent: Six Components on the Opponent's
(16) Fort Hays State
• Defending MIAA Regular season and Tournament Champions, last year finished 32-2 overall and 18-1 in the MIAA. Losing in the Central Regional Final against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
• Return 9 from last years team, lead by Kacey Kennett a 2nd team All-MIAA selection last year, Lanie Page a 3rd team All-MIAA selection and Belle Barbieri a HM All-MIAA selection.
• Are the only team in the country to not turnover the ball more than 10 times per game (9.6), and leads the country in assist to turnover ration with 1.82.
Nebraska Kearney
• Finished last year 15-14 overall going 8-11 in the MIAA. Lost to Missouri Western in the First round of the MIAA Conference Tournament
• Return 10 from last years team, lead by Maegan Holt, Kelsey Sanger and Brooke Carlson all were HM All-MIAA selections.
• Leads the conference in scoring offense (84.7) and scoring margin (+32.7), and are second in scoring defense (52.0).
Last Time the Lions …
Scored 100 points 12/30/17 (vs. Graceland, W 100-44)
Allowed 100 points 2/12/00 (vs. Emporia State, L 102-60)
Scored 100 points & lost 11/23/91 (vs. Arkansas-Monticello, L 104-100)
Lost at home 12/7/19 (vs. Washburn, L 83-76)
Played an overtime game 11/16/19 (at. Illinois Springfield, L 80-75)
Played multiple overtimes 12/7/17 (2 OT vs. Lincoln, W 94-90)
Had a player with 30 points 1/5/19 (at Lincoln, Chelsey Henry, 35 pts.)
Had a player with 15 rebounds 12/17/19 (vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan, Madi Stokes, 18)
Had a double-double 12/17/19 (Stokes, 22 points & 18 rebounds, vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan) W , 86-62
Did not make a three-pointer 11/20/99 (vs. So. Arkansas, L 73-62)
Up Next
After this series, the Lions will be back home on January 9 to play host to Central Oklahoma at 5:30 pm inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
