Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team begins the 2021-22 regular schedule by hosting the GAC/MIAA Challenge. The four team tournament begins tomorrow with Emporia State facing Harding at 3:00 pm before the Lions take on Henderson State at 7:30 pm on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Missouri Southern will conclude the tournament on Saturday against Harding at 5:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (9-14, 9-13 MIAA) vs. Henderson State (7-6, 7-5 GAC), Harding (7-8, 6-7 GAC) - 2020-21 Records
Date: Nov. 12/13, 2021
Tip-Off: 7:30/5:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Lions lead 4-2 against Henderson State, trail 5-0 against Harding
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 56-82 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
HSU: Jill Thomas, 176-150 (12th Season Overall) / (111-102 9th season at HSU)
HU: Tim Kirby, 306-153 (17th Season Overall / at HU)
Media Coverage
Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb
2021-22 Preseason MIAA Polls
The Lions were picked to finish 9th in the MIAA Coaches Poll and 10th in the Media Poll after going 9-14 overall and 9-13 in MIAA play during the 2020-21 campaign. The defending MIAA regular season champions Fort Hays State was picked to win the conference in both the media and coaches poll this season. Central Missouri who made it to the Final Four this past season was picked second in the coaches and tied with Fort Hays for first in the media poll. Picked third and fourth in both polls were Nebraska-Kearney and Emporia State. Each of the top-four teams made it to the Central Regional Tournament this past season. Rounding out the top eight teams were Central Oklahoma, Washburn, Pittsburg State and Missouri Western in both polls.
That's A Lot Of Games
The Lions' are on a streak of 607 games of having made at least one made three. The last game where they were shutout was Nov. 20, 1999 in Tahlequah, Okla playing Southern Arkansas losing 68-53.
D-Up
The Lions limited opponents to 38.4 percent from the floor the fourth best last season in the MIAA and 34.0 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes 50 blocks and Layne Skiles having 19 steals the Lions are primmed to shut down teams down low and on the perimeter. Against Washburn (Jan. 14, 2021) the Lions defense pitched a shutout from the long ball as the Ichabods' didn't connect on any of their attempts (0-9).
All-MIAA
Madi Stokes was an All-MIAA honorable and All-Defensive Team selection last season after being the only player to average a double-double and ended the regular season leading the conference in blocks.
Extreme Stokes
This season the Lions will have two student-athletes with the last name Stokes (no relation) and they are the shortest and tallest player on the roster in Madi Stokes (6' 3") and Lacy Stokes (5'4").
Running It Back Again
Mount Vernon high school product Lacy Stokes has a familiar face to play with again as Cameron Call transferred to MSSU from Division I Illinois State. The pair were part of three consecutive district championships at Mount Vernon high school, before Lacy led the Mountaineers to a Class 4 Runners-up finish this past season. Call holds the three-point record with 210 made in her high school career and in her junior season connected on 91 threes a school record. Stokes as a senior averaged 25.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 6.1 steals per game, had over 100 wins in her high school career and have over 2,000 points at point guard.
She Is 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. Last season she had 50 blocks the second most in a single-season at MSSU. She ranked 10th in Division II for blocks (1st among Sophomores) and finished second in the MIAA after the postseason concluded while leading the MIAA in blocks for a majority of the season. Tied the school record of seven at Rogers State (Jan 28, 2021). At the beginning of the 2021-22 season Stokes is tied with Jenson Maydew (2014-18) for third in career blocks at 83.
Climbing The Chart Fast
Madi Stokes has quickly rose up the career blocking list at MSSU where she is currently tied for third with Jenson Maydew (2014-18) at 83 and is second in blocks per game at 1.63 behind Joyce Falls (1986-88) who had a 1.69 blocks per game average.
Madi Has It
Madi Stokes lead the MIAA in blocks per game (2.17) and rebounds per game (10.5), second in blocked shots (50), defensive rebounds per game (8.2) and total rebounds (242). Fifth in double-doubles (7) and was eighth in offensive rebounds per game (2.3) last season. Ranked 10th in Division II for blocked shots, 15th in defensive rebounds per game, 19th in blocked shots per game, 21st in rebounds per game and 34th in double-doubles.
20-20's New Member
Madi Stokes against Emporia State (Jan. 16, 2021) 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). For the 2020-21 season only Stokes, Ritz (Wheeling) and Zyaire Ewing (Delta St.) achieved a 20 points - 20 rebound game.
30-20 History
Madi Stokes became the first player to achieve a 30 point - 20 rebound game in Southern's history at Rogers State (Jan. 28, 2021). Putting up a career-high 31 points shooting 13-of-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 of the 2020-21 season in Division II, Ritz (Wheeling) and Danielle Norquest (West Florida) also accomplished the feat later on in the season.
Bench Sparks
Freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicutt and junior guard/forward Amaya Johns brought it off the bench this past season. Hunnicutt was fourth on the team in scoring averaging 6.7 points a game, and connected on 26 threes. Her season-high of 15 was on the road against Pittsburg State (Jan. 9, 2021) . Johns led all bench scoring with 7.7 per game in 14 minutes a game. Her season-high of 21 points happened at home against Rogers State (Dec. 5, 2020) 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.
Let It Fly
This season the Lions are returning their top three-point shooters from 2020-21 in Layne Skiles and Kaitlin Hunnicutt while having Brooke Stauffer, Kaiulani Jones, Amaya Johns and Hailey Grant as capable shooters along with Division I Transfer Cameron Call to stretch the floor this season.
Skiles To Create 500 Career Points, 100 Assists, Made Free Throws, Three's Club
Coming into the 2021-22 season Layne Skiles has 497 points, 85 assists, 89 made free throws and 82 made three-pointers. When she accomplishes the quadfecta, Skiles would be the first Lion to have 500+ career points, 100+ assists, made free-throws and made three-pointers. She would also become the 13th Lion to have 100+ career three-pointers, the 52nd Lion to have 500+ career points and made free throws since the 1984-85 season and the 53rd Lions to have 100+ career assists since the 1984-85 season
Stokes Nears 500 Career Point, Rebounds Club
Coming into the 2021-22 season Madi Stokes has 411 career points and has pulled down 412 rebounds so far. She would be the 13th Lion to have 500+ career points and rebounds and only Caryn Schumaker (1987-91) has more blocks presently at 109 the second best amount in MSSU history.
Reddie Set Go
Henderson State comes into the 2021-22 season off a strong finishing winning four of its last five regular season games that included an upset of then #14 Arkansas Tech before having their season end due to Coid in the GAC Quarterfinals. Picked in the GAC Preseason Poll to finish sixth, the Reddies return 10 from last season including Lani Snowden and Karrington Whaley who are fifth-year seniors. Maci Mains and Ashley Farrar are back after leading the team in scoring averaging 15.4 and 13.3 points per game.
Bison Charge
Harding is coming into the 2021-22 season with the reigning GAC Freshman of the Year Sage Hawley who averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field. Picked to finish fifth in the GAC Preseason Poll the Bison return nine from a team that finished third in the Eastern division and went 7-8 overall.
