Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team travels to Claremore, Okla. to take on the Hillcats of Rogers State. Tip-off from the Claremore Expo Center is scheduled for 5:30 pm tomorrow.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-8, 4-8 MIAA) vs Rogers State (4-8, 4-8 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 28, 2021
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Claremore, Okla.
Site: Claremore Expo Center
Series Record: Southern lead the series 4-0
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 51-76 (5th Season)
RSU: Kyle Bent, 22-46 (3rd Season at RSU),117-84 (7th Season Overall)
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 27 blocks, and is fourth in Division II in the category while leading the MIAA by four.
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 Division 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 37.6 percent from the floor and 32.0 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes' 27 blocks and Carley Turnbull having 14 steals the Lions are primed 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 8.6 points a game, and has connected on a team-high 19 threes this season. Her season-high of 15 was on the road against Pittsburg State. Johns is right behind Hunnicutt in scoring with 7.7 per game in 13 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.
Rematch
The first rematch of the season for the Lions after winning 96-85 that was highlighted by a 70 point combined fourth quarter. For the Lions Carley Turnbull had a game-high 23 points, Amaya Johns posted a career-high 21 points shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line from the bench. Brooke Stauffer also had a career-high with 18 points going 5-of-5 from the field, 2-of-2 from three and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Layne Skiles had 16 points shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from the three. Megan Jackson dished out seven assists and Madi Stokes had five blocks. Was the 11th time since the 85-86 season that 4 Lions had scored 15+ points in a game. For the Hillcats Samariah Thompson had a double-double with 15 points and 12 assists, Julie Luna had 16 points from the bench and Lily Garner had 14 points.
Last Time Out For Rogers State
Playing Newman the Hillcats stifled the Jets offense entering the half up 36-11. The Jets finished the game shooting 21 percent from the field while the Hillcats shoot 34 percent. Thompson had a game-high 13 points, Vanessa Gajodosova chipped in with 11 points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists. Julie Luna had 11 points off the bench shooting 3-of-5 from behind the three point line and going 2-of-2 from the free throw stripe.
