Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team looks set to end the Oklahoma road trip as they travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the Riverhawks of Northeastern State. Tip-off from the NSU Events Center is scheduled for 1:30 pm tomorrow.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (5-8, 5-8 MIAA) vs Northeastern State (4-9, 4-9 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 30, 2021
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Tahlequah, Okla.
Site: NSU Events Center
Series Record: Tied at 17
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 52-76 (5th Season)
NSU: Fala Bullock, 25-69 (4th season at NSU),122-138 (9th 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 34 blocks, and is leading Division II in the category while leading the MIAA by eight. Tied the school record of seven last game at Rogers State, tied for fifth in career blocks at Southern with Marie Scott (95-97), and five away from tying for fifth in single-season blocks with Caryn Schumaker (89-90) with 39 on the season.
Stokes Has It
Madi Stokes is leads the MIAA in blocks (34), blocks per game (2.62) total rebounds (152), rebounds per game (11.7), and defensive rebounds per game (9.0), sits third in double-doubles (4) and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (2.7). In Division II ranks first in blocks, second in total rebounds, fifth in defensive rebounds per game, 13th in rebounds per game, 16th in blocks per game and 23rd for double-doubles.
20-20 Thought We Were Done
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 was 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).
30-20 History
Stokes is the first player to achieve a 30 point - 20 rebound game in Southern's history last game at Rogers State. Putting up a career-high 31 points shooting 13-0f-19 from the field and pulling down 21 rebounds and blocking a single-game tying seven blocks in the overtime win. It is the first 30-20 game this season.
Anchors Down
The Lions are limiting opponents to 37.0 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes 34 blocks and Carley Turnbull having 14 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 8.2 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 7.2 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 second rematch of the season for the Lions after winning 70-64 in Joplin. Carly Turnbull had a game-high 27 points as Madi Stokes picked up a double-double scoring 10 points and hauling 16 rebounds. Kaitlin Hunnicutt had 10 points off the bench and Biance Stocks had a game-high six assists off the bench as well. Shae Sanchez had 18 points for the Riverhawks and Maegan Lee added 11 from the bench. Britney Ho and Cenia Hayes would chip in with 10 points each.
Last Time Out For Northeastern State
Playing Pittsburg State the Riverhawks fell 65-50 at home. Kaylee DaMitz had a game-high 25 points for the Gorillas while Zaria Collins had 19 points to lead the Riverhawks. Sanchez and the Lee sisters each added seven points in the loss.
