Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team is set to host the Jennies of Central Missouri tomorrow inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Tip-off from Robert Corn Court is set for 5:30 PM. The Lions are coming into the game on a six game winning streak and the best eight game start to a season under Ronnie Ressel.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (6-2, 3-0 MIAA) at Central Missouri (6-4, 2-1 MIAA)
Dates: Dec.16, 2021
Tip-Off: 5:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court Inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: UCM leads 46-23 Overall, 19-15 in Joplin
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 62-84 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
UCM: Dave Slifer, 362-159 (18th Season at UCM), 746-258 (32nd Season 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 Jennies
The Jennies were picked to finish either second or first in the MIAA preseason polls this season after making a trip to the Final Four and were the MIAA Tournament Champions going 23-5, 19-3 in MIAA play finishing second in the regular season standings. Gone is MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Morgan VanHyfte and Gigi McAtee who was a All-MIAA selection as well. First team All-MIAA forward Nija Collier is back and averages 22.2 points and 12.6 rebounds a game, shooting .601 from the field, .462 from the three, 19 blocks and is averaging 36 minutes a game. Olivia Nelson was named to the MIAA second team as a true freshman point guard last season and is averaging 14.6 points, shooting .526 from three and has dished out a league high 51 assists. Brooke Littrell partners Collier in the front court and is averaging 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game while shooting .504 percent from the field. Charley Bovaird is the leading three point shooter going 22-of-48 (.458 percent) and owns a .929 free throw percentage. Kade Hackerott rounds out the starting five averaging 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds a game and has come away with 14 steals. Ali Vigil is the first and sometimes only one coming off the bench for the Jennies and averages 11.9 minutes a game with all five starters playing on average 30+ minutes a game. Last time out the Jennies slipped past Northwest Missouri who was 8-1 coming into the contest 60-57 in Warrensburg. Collier finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds playing every minute, Littrell added 18 points and grabbed five rebounds, Nelson played the full game and had six assists to go with a block and a steal and Vigil played 19 minutes scoring eight points as the only bench player to see action for the Jennies.
Busy Week To Close Out 2021 Calender Year
The Lions are set to embark on hosting three games in six days to close out 2021. Following the win against McKendree on Monday the Lions will take on Central Missouri on Thursday before playing Lincoln on Saturday to finish the year for the Lions. Following this week's games the Lions will have a 13 day break before game day comes again on January 1st as they will hit the road to take on Northwest Missouri in Maryville
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 614 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.
To The 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 1.64 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 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a game while connecting on a team-high 16 threes so far and is shooting 39.0 percent from three. This season Johns is averaging 9.5 points and pulling down 4.4 rebounds a game.
A Trio Of Thieves
In the early going of the season Lacy Stokes, Kaitlin Hunnicutt and Layne Skiles have established themselves as top talents in stealing the ball from the opposition. Stokes leads the MIAA with 2.875 steals a game and 23 total steals while Hunnicutt (11) and Skiles (11) rank in the top-25 in the MIAA. Hunnicutt became the first Lion since Krista Clark (Dec. 30, 2017) to have a game with 5 or more steals in the Lions 84-65 win at Rogers State and Stokes repeated the feat against McKendree last time out.
Who Wants To Get Blocked
This season the lions feature two of the premier shot blockers in the MIAA in redshirt guard/forward Hailey Grant and sophomore center Madi Stokes. Grant leads the Lions with 11 blocks this season the eight best tally in the conference and is fourth in blocks per game (1.38). Stokes has nine blocks this season the tenth most in the MIAA. The pairing pace the Lions who average 4.1 blocks per game and are fifth in the MIAA with 33 total blocked shots through eight games.
Bench Scoring Coming Alive
This season the Lions have averaged 26.8 points per game as a bench unit and are led by sophomore center Madi Stokes who averages 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game while blocking 9 shots ans is shooting .579 from the field (22-38). Sophomore guard Cameron Call is second averaging 6.3 points per game and is shooting .346 from three (9-26) and has dished out 12 assists while averaging 20.5 minutes a game. 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 Cameron Call added 11 points, both career-highs. The Lions against McKendree (Dec. 13) scored 55 of their 92 points from the bench with Stokes leading all scorers with 19 points and Call adding 13 of her own. Maleigha Landers connected on three from deep for nine points, Anna Hall scored eight, Mia Topping connected on two three's and Hailey Grant came away with career-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (7).
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 582 points, 97 assists, 109 made free throws and 93 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.
Madi Nears 500 Career Point, Rebounds Club
Currently Madi Stokes has 457 career points and has pulled down 433 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 Stats (Dec. 13)
TEAM: The Lions rank 21st in scoring offense (78.1), 34th in three point percentage (35.0), 39th in scoring margin (+13.8), 40th in blocked shots per game (4.1), 41st in three points field goals per game (7.8) and 49th in assists per game (15.6).
Lacy Stokes: In division II ranks fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.43), ninth in free throws attempted (66), 10th in assists per game (6.0), 13th in assists (48), 15th in free throws made (46), 29th in steals per game (2.88) and 43rd in steals (23).
Layne Skiles: Ranks seventh in Division II in free throw percentage going 20-21 (95.2) and had a consecutive made streak of 37 stretching back to last season.
MIAA Stats (Dec. 13)
TEAM: The Lions are in the MIAA second in blocked shots per game (4.1)and scoring offense (78..1), Third in fewest fouls committed (129), scoring margin (+13.8), three point field goals per game (7.8) and turnovers forced per game (19.25). Fourth in assists per game (15.6), free throws made (125), three point percentage (35.0) and turnover margin (+3.38). Fifth in blocked shots (33), defensive rebounds per game (27.1), free throw percentage (74.4), offensive rebounds per game (12.2) and three point field goals made (62).
Lacy Stokes: Leads the MIAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.43), assists per game (6.0), free throw attempts (66), steals (23) and steals per game (2.88). Second in assists (48) and free throws made (46), fifth in points per game (18.0) and is ninth in field goal attempts (111)
Kaitlin Hunnicutt: Ranks fourth in the MIAA in three point percentage (39.0), seventh in three point field goals per game (2.00) and tenth in three's made (16).
Layne Skiles: Leads the MIAA in free throw percentage going a 20-21 for 95.2 percent, and had a consecutive made streak of 37 stretching back to last season.
Hailey Grant: Ranks fourth in the MIAA in blocks per game (1.38) and eighth in blocks (11).
Madi Stokes: Ranks 10th in the MIAA in blocked shots (9).
