Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern State University Women's Basketball returns home after two road games as the Lions host Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night and Missouri Western State on Saturday.
Game Information
Date: February 13&15, 2020
Tip-Off: 5:30 & 1:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series: MSSU leads NWMSU, 32-25; MWSU leads MSSU, 54-33
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 7-14 overall record and an 6-8 MIAA record. Destiny Cozart (13.9), Chasidee Owens (14.7) and Zoe Campbell (10.2) pace the Lions as the three players who average double digit scoring in the 20 games this season. Campbell leads the team in rebounds per game (7.7) and blocks (53).
About the Opposition
Western is 17-5 overall and 9-4 in the MIAA. The Griffons enter Wednesday's action on a three-game winning streak, including a 67-57 home win over No. 22 ranked University of Central Missouri the last time out (Feb. 8).
Northwest is 11-11 overall and 6-7 in conference action heading into a Thursday match-up against Missouri Southern State University. The Bearcats claimed a 59-45 home win over Lincoln University on Feb. 8.
The Gliding Griffons
Missouri Western averages 45 percent from the field per game, ranking them third in the MIAA in that category. The Griffons also average 34 percent from three-point range. MWSU also ranks fourth in the conference in steals averaging 10 takeaways per game.
The Griffons average 14.91 assists per game placing themselves in the top-five of the league in that stat category. Chris Wilson ranks third in the MIAA in rebounding averaging 8.5 boards per game. Wilson also ranks fifth in the conference in field goal percentage averaging 53% shooting per game.
Corbyn Cunningham ranks in the top-10 of the league in scoring averaging 14.8 points per contest. Cunningham also averages 56% from the field ranking herself in the top-five of the conference. Katrina Roenfeldt ranks second in the MIAA in steals averaging 2.5 takeaways per game.
Beardown Bearcats
Northwest is ranked No. 29 in the country in scoring defense by holding opponents to 57.5 points per game. The Bearcats rank No. 5 in the country in free throw percentage at 79.5 percent. The Bearcats have seven players shooting 75 percent or higher from the charity stripe. Jaelyn Haggard is tops on the team having made 17-of-18 free throws (94.4 percent).
The Bearcats currently sit at ninth in the MIAA at 6-7. Five of the Bearcats losses came to top six teams in the conference (Central Missouri, Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney, Missouri Western, and Emporia State).
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 109 combined blocks and a 5.2 average per contest for 12th and seventh in the nation, respectively. Both marks also place them first among MIAA programs with Central Missouri trailing by 13 (96) in second.
Front and Center... and Sending it BackAfter 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 12th nationally in total blocks (54) and 12th in blocks per game (2.65) while leading the MIAA in both categories. Earlier this season, she moved into second in all-time in career blocks (105), just four away from the all-time record of 109 by Caryn Schumaker (87-91). She now has the top single-season mark in MSSU history by passing Brianna Volmer (2005-06) who had 42. She set the school record for blocks in one game (7) at Harding. She is also eighth in the MIAA in rebounds per game (7.5) with 112 defensive to push her to a tie for sixth in the league.
