Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern State University Women's Basketball returns will hit the road to take on Northwest Missouri in a Thursday night tilt.
Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2020
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Maryville, Mo.
Site: Bearcat Arena (2,500)
Series Record: MSSU leads series 33-25
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 Thursday's contest with an 8-15 overall record and 7-9 MIAA record.
Destiny Cozart (14.3) is the leading scorer for the Lions while Campbell leads the team in rebounds per game (7.6) and blocks (57).
About the Opposition
Northwest is 11-13 overall and 6-9 in conference action heading into a Thursday match-up against Missouri Southern State University. The Bearcats fell to MSSU 67-61 last Thursday and 60-54 to Pittsburg State on Saturday.
Beardown Bearcats
Northwest is ranked No. 36 in the country in scoring defense by holding opponents to 58.0 points per game. The Bearcats rank No. 7 in the country in free throw percentage at 79.2 percent. The Bearcats have seven players shooting 75 percent or higher from the charity stripe. Jaelyn Haggard is tops on the team having made 19-of-20 free throws (95.0 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 118 combined blocks and a 5.1 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 seven (111) 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 12th nationally in total blocks (57) and 14th in blocks per game (2.48) while leading the MIAA in both categories. Earlier this season, she moved into second in all-time in career blocks (108), just one away from tying 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 (7.6) with 127 defensive to push her to a tie for sixth in the league.
