Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team will make the first road trip of MIAA play tomorrow looking to extend their four game winning streak as they play Rogers State in Claremore, Oklahoma. Tip-off from the Claremore Expo Center is set for 1:30 PM.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-2, 2-0 MIAA) at Rogers State (4-5, 0-3 MIAA)
Dates: Dec.11, 2021
Tip-Off: 1:30 PM
Location: Claremore, Okla.
Site: Claremore Expo Center
Series Record: Lions lead 5-0 overall, 2-0 in Claremore, Oklahoma
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 60-84 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
RSU: Kyle Bent, 28-59 (4th Season at RSU) (123-97 Overall)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, AM 1560 & KXMS 88.7 FM
Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb
Scouting The Hillcats
Picked to finish 12th in the MIAA preseason coaches poll and tied for 11th in the media polls this season after finishing 6-16 overall a season ago. Gone is Samariah Thompson who transfered after being the lone All-MIAA selection for Rogers State last season. Bailey Kliewer is in the beginning of a breakout season for the Hillcats with a team-high 15.2 points and 5.9 rebounds a game while shooting 37-of-44 from free throws for .841 percent and has 12 steals on the season so far. Vanessa Gajdosova averages 8.8 points and 4.3 assists a game on the season but in conference play averages 4.66 turnovers a game. Julie Luna leads the bench scoring with 9.9 points a game and is the top shooter going 11-of-19 from three (.579) this season. Against Pittsburg State Luna led the Hillcats with 15 points from the bench while Kliewer had 10 in the 74-60 loss on Wednesday in Claremore, Okla.
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 613 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.
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.
Madi 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 third passing Jenson Maydew's (2014-18) total of 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
Last season Madi Stokes led 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.
Freshman Scoring Record Had L&P Stoked
Lacy Stokes set a new school record for freshman scoring with 33 last time out against Central Oklahoma (Dec. 2nd) that powered the Lions to a 81-74 win. Lacy is the first freshman since the 1984-85 season to have 30+ points and one of only four freshman or sophomores to score 30+ points in a game for the Lions since the 84-85 season.
Lacy Floods The Box Score To Open Season
Freshman point guard Lacy Stokes opened her collegiate career with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Lacy repeated the trick with a 21 point, eight assist, seven rebound, three steal and a block game while playing 42 minutes of an overtime loss to Harding (Nov. 13th).
Freshman Off To A Historic Start
Lacy Stokes became the first freshman since Joyce Falls (1986-87) to begin a season with back-to-back 20+ point games. Stokes' 25 points against Henderson State (Nov. 12th) rank seventh among all Missouri Southern players in a season opening game since the 1984-85 season and the first to score 25+ points since Jasmine Lovejoy scored the second most points in a season opener finishing with a double-double of 36 points and 15 rebounds against Arkansas-Fort Smith (Nov. 16, 2010)
Bench Sparks Turned Starters
Redshirt freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicutt and junior guard/forward Amaya Johns brought it off the bench this past season and are now in the starting lineup regularly. 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. This season Hunnicutt is averaging 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds a game while connecting on a team-high 11 threes so far and is shooting 33.3 percent from three. This season Johns is averaging 10.0 points and pulling down 4.2 rebounds a game.
Bench Scoring Coming Alive
This season the Lions have averaged 21.3 points per game as a bench unit and are led by redshirt freshman forward Anna Hall with 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. Hall set career-highs in points against Missouri S&T (Nov. 20) with 17 and rebounds against Henderson State (Nov. 12) with 10. As a unit the Lions scored 41 of their 74 points in the win against Missouri S&T (Nov. 20) as freshman guard Mia Topping finished with 12 points and sophomore guard Cameron Call added 11 points, both career-highs.
Hall Setting Career Highs Early
In the season opening game Nov. 12th against Henderson State for the Lions redshirt freshman forward Anna Hall set a new career-high in rebounds finishing with 10 (four offensive, six defensive) off the bench. Against the Miners of Missouri S&T Nov. 20th in Rolla, Mo. Hall finished with a career-high 17 points to lead all scorers going 6-of-7 from the field and 5-of-5 from free throws and pulled in six rebounds off the bench.
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
Currently Layne Skiles has 564 points, 93 assists, 104 made free throws and 90 made three-pointers in her career. When Skiles accomplishes the quadfecta of having 500+ career points, 100+ assists, made free-throws and made three-pointers she will become the first in MSSU history with such totals. 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. Currently Skiles is on a 33 made free throw streak stretching back to last season.
Madi Nears 500 Career Point, Rebounds Club
Currently Madi Stokes has 430 career points and has pulled down 425 rebounds so far in her career. 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.
NCAA Ranks
TEAM: The Lions rank 32nd in fewest turnovers (95), 33rd in fewest fouls committed (97)and 43rd in scoring offense (74.8) across Division II.
Lacy Stokes: In division II ranks third in assist-turnover ratio (3.55), sixth in assists per game (6.5), 24th in free throws attempted (51), 25th in points per game (19.7), 29th in assists (39), 29th in steals per game (2.83) and 39th in free throws made (36).
Layne Skiles: Leads Division II in free throw percentage going a perfect 15-15 for 1.000 percent, and is on a 33 consecutive made streak from the charity stripe stretching to last season
MIAA Ranks
TEAM: The Lions lead the MIAA in fewest fouls committed (97), third in turnover margin (+3.17), fourth in fewest turnovers (95), rebounds per game (40.67) and turnovers forced (19.00). Fifth in blocked shots per game (3.7), offensive rebounds per game (13.7), three point field goals made per game (7.0) and sixth in scoring offense (74.8).
Lacy Stokes: Leads the MIAA in assist-turnover ratio (3.55), assists per game (6.5), free throw attempts (51) and steals per game (2.83). Ranks second in total assists (39),third in points per game (19.7) and steals (17). Fifth in free throws made (36), sixth in minutes played per game (33.53), eighth in defensive rebounds per game (5.8), ninth in rebounds per game (7.5) and 10th in field goals attempted (95).
Hailey Grant: Ranks fifth in the MIAA in blocks per game (1.330) and ninth in blocks (8).
Anna Hall: Ranks 10th in the MIAA in offensive rebounds per game (2.3)
Layne Skiles: Leads the MIAA in free throw percentage going a perfect 15-15 for 1.000 percent, and is on a 33 consecutive made streak from the charity stripe stretching to last season.
