Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team will host the #4 Nebraska - Kearney Lopers inside Leggett & Platt Athletic Center tomorrow. Tip-off from Robert Corn Court is set for 1:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-7, 4-7 MIAA) vs #4 Nebraska - Kearney (11-0, 11-0 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 23, 2021
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center / Robert Corn Court
Series Record: Southern lead the series 20-17
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 51-75 (5th Season)
UNK: Carrie Eighmey, 101-57 (6th season)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 107.9 FM, AM 1560 & 1340; KXMS 88.7 FM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb
MIAA Preseason Poll
The Lions were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA after going 10-18 overall and 7-12 in MIAA play during the 2019-20 campaign. Emporia State was picked to win the MIAA with 4 first-place votes with Nebraska-Kearney picking up 6 first-place votes in second and defending Conference Champions Central Missouri rounding out the top three with 3 first-place votes. Pittsburg State was projected to finish fourth while Fort Hays State picked up the other first-place vote and rounded out the top-five.
Block Party From Down Under
Senior center Zoe Campbell erupted for a school record 62 blocks to lead the MIAA and finish the year 21st in Division II. The Caloundra, Australia native set new single-game, single-season and career block records during the 2019-20 season. Campbell has increased her block total each season at southern, going from 11 as a freshman to 40 as a sophomore and 62 this past season. Currently Campbell is at 117 career blocks and counting.
Stoked To Block You
Sophomore center Madi Stokes had a freshman campaign to remember as a defensive force down low. The Cassville, Missouri native had 33 blocks during the 2019-20 season finishing fifth in the MIAA overall and eighth in Division II for freshman. This season she is already at 25 blocks, and is third in Division II in the category while leading the MIAA by six.
Stokes Has It
Madi Stokes is leads the MIAA in blocks (25), blocks per game (2.27) total rebounds (123), rebounds per game (11.2), and defensive rebounds per game (8.3), ranking second in offensive rebounds per game (2.9). Ranks third in blocks, third in total rebounds, 14th in rebounds per game, is 15th in defensive rebounds, and is 17th in blocks per game in Division II.
20-20 History
Madi Stokes against Emporia State (Jan. 16) finishing with 21 points and 22 rebounds (10 offensive) becoming the third member of the 20-20 club at Southern. The most recent since Marie Scott had a 24 point 22 rebound game (Nov. 24, 1995) in a 81-71 win over Missouri Valley. The last time anyone in the MIAA had a 20-20 game was Vivian Essuon who had 20 points and 23 rebounds against Missouri Western Jan. 7, 2012. Stokes is the second player to achieve the feat in Divison II as Lilly Ritz did it the same day putting up 22 points and 25 rebounds (10 offensive).
Anchors Down
The Lions are limiting opponents to 37.1 percent from the floor and 32.2 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes 25 blocks and Carley Turnbull having 13 steals the Lions are primmed to shut down teams down low and on the perimeter. Against Washburn the Lions defense pitched a shutout from the long ball as the Ichabods didn't connect on any of their attempts (0-8).
Bench Sparks
Freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicutt and junior guard/forward Amaya Johns are bringing it off the bench this season. Hunnicutt is third on the team in scoring averaging 8.9 points a game, and has connected on a team-high 18 threes this season. Her season-high of 15 was on the road against Pittsburg State. Johns is right behind Hunnicutt in scoring with 8.4 per game in 14 minutes a game. Her season-high of 21 points happened at home against Rogers State shooting 7-of-9 from the field, 1-of-2 from the three point line and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
1,000-Point Scorer Joins the Pride
Carley Turnbull comes to Southern having already scored over 1,000 points in her career, at Monmouth College a Division III institution in Illinois. She averaged 14.5 points per game and pulled down 5.9 rebounds per game over her three years for the Fighting Scots, finishing with 1,131 points. Turnbull is already off to a hot start for the Lions finishing the season opener against Central Oklahoma with a team-high 15 points and snatched away two steals. Turnbull turned a dominate performance against Northeastern State in the home opener posting 27 points, while collecting five rebounds, dishing out four assists, blocking a shot and getting two steals.
Athlete of the Week
Senior guard/forward Carley Turnbull became the latest Lion to be named MIAA Athlete of the Week (Week 3) after averaging 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal per game leading the Lions to wins over Northeastern State and Rogers State on home court in week three of the season. Turnbull was efficient from the field shooting 51.3 percent and was 82 percent from the charity stripe. The last Lion to win this award was Chelsey Henry in Jan. 2018.
Loper Returners
Picked to finish second the MIAA, the Lopers return 14 from last seasons 26-6, 14-5 MIAA team. Returning are 2nd-team All-MIAA selection Brooke Carlson, 3rd-team All-MIAA selection Haley Simental, Honorable Mentions Maegan Holt, Klaire Kirsch and Kelsey Sanger.
Last Time Out For #4 Nebraska-Kearney
Playing Pittsburg State the Lopers used a late 9-0 run to overtake the Gorillas and snap their winning streak. Elisa Backes had her third double-double posting 20 points and 11 rebounds while having a team-high three assists and blocks from the bench. Trinity Law and Shiloh McCool had 10 points each from the bench as well, as the starters combined for 14 points shooting 5-of-17 from the field.
