Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team is set to finish the week at home as they host the Gorillas from Pittsburg State in another installation of the cross border rivalry. Tip-off from Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is scheduled for 1:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (7-12, 7-12 MIAA) vs Pittsburg State (12-7, 12-7 MIAA)
Date: Feb. 20, 2021
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center / Robert Corn Court
Series Record: Gorillas lead 54-42 all-time, in Joplin the Lions have a 24-22 advantage.
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 54-80 (5th Season Overall)
PSU: Amanda Davied , 50-27 (3rd 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 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.
That's A Lot Of Games
The Lions' are on a streak of 603 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.
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 at 41 blocks, and is fifth in Division II in the category while leading the MIAA by two. Tied the school record of seven at Rogers State (Jan 28), fifth in career blocks at Southern passing Marie Scott (95-97), and is one block away from second in single-season blocks currently held by Brianna Volmer (05-06) with 42.
Stokes Has It
Madi Stokes is leading the MIAA in blocks (41), blocks per game (2.16) total rebounds (204) rebounds per game (10.7) and defensive rebounds per game (8.3). Sits fourth in double-doubles (6), and seventh in offensive rebounds per game (2.5). In Division II ranks fifth for total rebounds and blocks, 11th for defensive rebounds per game, 16th for total rebounds per game, 20th in blocked shots per game, and 24th 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 New Club Who Dis
Stokes is the first player to achieve a 30 point - 20 rebound game in Southern's history at Rogers State. 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 this season in Division II.
Anchors Down
The Lions are limiting opponents to 38.6 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes 41 blocks and Carley Turnbull having 19 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 7.4 points a game, and has connected on a team-high 23 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.
Round Two
Last time these two teams faced off, it came down the wire with the Gorillas pulling away in the fourth to win at home. Carley Turnbull led the scoring for Southern with 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds, Kaitlin Hunnicutt had a career-high 15 points going 3-of-8 from three. Biance Stocks had a career-high seven assists to go with seven points off the bench, as the Lions outscored the Gorillas bench 39-13.
Last Time Out For Pittsburg State
Playing Missouri Western in St. Joe, the Gorillas fell 68-64. Kaylee DaMitz led the scoring charge with a team-high 19 points while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out four assists. Erin Davis led the bench scoring with 12 points, as the Gorillas shot 35.5 percent from the field and 13 percent from three.
