Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern State University Women's Basketball will return home for the final two games of the season as the Lions play Wednesday when they welcome the No. 19 University of Central Missouri Jennies. The Lions look for just one win to secure a spot in the MIAA tournament for the eighth-straight year.
Game Information
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Cord Court (LPAC)
Series Record: UCM leads series 43-23
Coaches
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 107.9 and AM 1560
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 Wednesday's contest with a 9-16 overall record and an 6-11 MIAA record. Chasidee Owens (14.7) and Destiny Cozart (14.2) are the leading scorers for the Lions while Campbell leads the team in rebounds per game (7.1) and blocks (58).
Jennies lead the Pack
Central Missouri enters the weekend with a 22-4 overall record and a 16-1 record in the MIAA. A single win this week would wrap up an outright MIAA regular season championship for the Jennies, whose lone loss on the conference slate came at the hands of Missouri Western on Feb. 8. The Jennies have clinched the No. 1 seed in next weekend's MIAA Tournament. The Jennies are the No. 1 team in the Central Region after the first set of regional rankings last weekend. UCM has made three straight regional appearances.
Jennies Put the Ball in the Hoop
Gigi McAtee is scoring 6.2 points in her last six games. She matched a UCM high with 10 points on 3-4 from three at Washburn. Megan Skaggs has 20+ points in three of her last four games. Skaggs is third in the MIAA scoring 17.0 points per game while Morgan Fleming is 5th at 15.8. Skaggs is the only player in the MIAA top-5 in both scoring and field goal percentage. Collier is leading the league in rebounding with 9.6 and is 2nd with 1.8 blocks per game. Fleming is 5th with 3.6 assists per game. Morgan VanHyfte and Megan Skaggs are tied for eighth with 1.9 steals per game. Fleming, Collier and Skaggs are all in the top-10 in free throw percentage and top-12 in field goal percentage. Kim Crown is averaging seven points in her last four games and 6.3 rebounds her last three games
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 votes and was picked second. Washburn (3), Pittsburg State (4), and Emporia State (5) rounded out the top-5.
On the Cusp of the Postseason
Southern was just seconds away from clincing a spot into the MIAA tournament on last Thursday night, however, Newman stunned Emporia State at the last second. Southern needs just one win in the final two games to clinch a spot. In addition, one loss by Newman in their final two games would help the Lions.
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 123 combined blocks and a 4.9 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 eight (116) in second.
Front and Center... and Sending it Back
Junior center Zoe Campbell from Caloundra, Australia has become a force in the front court. Campbell ranks 16th nationally in total blocks (58) and 17th in blocks per game (2.32) while leading the MIAA in both categories. On Saturday, Campbell tied the all-time career blocks record record of 109 with 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 (7.1) with 129 defensive to push her to a tie for sixth in the league.
