Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern State University Women's Basketball team is gearing up for their second Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) match against the Washburn Ichabods on Thursday.
 
The game comes on the heels of winning two straight games. They defeated Northeastern State (59-50) and Rogers State (92-64).  
 
Game Information
Date:  February 6, 2020
Tip-Off: 5:30 PM
Location: Topkea, Kan.
Site: Lee Arena
Series: Washburn leads 49-28
                                      
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 7-12 overall record and an 4-7 MIAA record. Southern will look to move their winning streak up to two games after earning a hard fought 59-50 win over Northeastern State on Wednesday night. Destiny Cozart (13.7), Chasidee Owens (15.1) and Zoe Campbell (10.4) pace the Lions as the three players who average double digit scoring in the 19 games this season. Campbell leads the team in rebounds per game (7.1) and blocks (51).
 
Ichabods Aim to Climb in Right Direction
Washburn enters Thursday's game with an 11-9 record and a 5-6 MIAA mark. They saw their three-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday at No. 22 Central Missouri (83-68). The game is anticipated to be an exciting game as Washburn is tied for eighth place alongside Northwest Missouri in the MIAA standings, with Missouri Southern coming in next in 10th.
 
Ichabods Look to Keep the Pressure
The Ichabods have won the last three-straight games in Lee Arena and are 6-2 when playing on their home court. MSSU has struggled on the road as it has a 2-9 record when playing away from the Leggett and Platt Center.
 
Hunting for the Lead
Hunter Bentley tallied double-figures for the 17th time this season in the game against No. 22 UCM. She continues to help the Ichabods in all areas of the game as she leads the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounds (7.2 rpg), steals (1.9 spg), free throw percentage (.806), blocks (0.7 bpg), and minutes played (34.8 mpg). 
 Shelbe Piggie has scored double-digits in six of the last seven games off the bench and averages 13.1 ppg in that timeframe. Overall this season, she averages 12.7 ppg and is shooting 49.5 percent from the field (99-of-200). She has led the team in scoring in the past three-consecutive games with back-to-back 18-point games and then put up 19 against Central Missouri. Reagan Phelan is averaging 12.2 ppg and leads the team in assists with 5.1 per game, which is second in the MIAA and 22nd in Division II.
Alexis McAfee averages 9.3 ppg to go with 5.5 rpg.
 Hayley Thompson was 4-for-6 with two made free throws against Central Missouri en route to scoring 10 points. She holds a field goal percentage of 66.7% after converting 52 of 78 attempts.
 
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 106 combined blocks and a 5.6 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 21 (85) 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 11th nationally in total blocks (51) and 10th in blocks per game (2.7) while leading the MIAA in both categories. Earlier this month, she moved into second in all-time in career blocks (101), just eight 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 (7.8) with 98 defensive to push her fourth in the league. s per game.