Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team begins the MIAA tournament matching-up with #5 Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. Tip-off from Gross Memorial Coliseum is set for 6 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (9-13) vs. #5 Fort Hays State (20-2)
Date: Mar 3, 2021
Tip-Off: 6:00 pm
Location: Hays, Kan.
Site: Gross Memorial Coliseum
Series Record: Fort Hays leads 34-18
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 56-81 (5th Season Overall / at MSSU)
FHSU: Tony Hobson, 485-141 (29th Season Overall) / (280-103 13th Season at FHSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Jonathan Zweygardt - Play by play
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb
Best The Poll, Keeping The Streak Alive
At the beginning of the season the Lions were picked to finish 10th in the conference after finishing last season 10-18 overall, 7-12 in MIAA play. At the conclusion of the season the Lions came away with the eighth seed at a 9-13 record, winning the last two to secure a place at the MIAA Postseason Tournament for the ninth straight season.
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.
That's A Lot Of Games
The Lions' are on a streak of 606 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 47 blocks, and is fifth in Division II in the category while leading the MIAA by three. Tied the school record of seven blocks in a game at Rogers State (Jan 28), fifth in career blocks at Southern passing Marie Scott (95-97), and is in sole possession of second in single-season blocks that was previously held by Brianna Volmer (05-06) with 42.
Stokes Has It
Madi Stokes is leading the MIAA in blocks (47), blocks per game (2.1) total rebounds (236) rebounds per game (10.7) and defensive rebounds per game (8.3). Sits second in double-doubles (7), and seventh in offensive rebounds per game (2.4). In Division II ranks fifth for total rebounds and blocks, 11th for defensive rebounds per game, 14th for rebounds per game, 20th in blocked shots per game, and 25th 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 38.2 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Stokes 47 blocks and Carley Turnbull having 22 steals the Lions are primmed to shut down teams down low and on the perimeter. Against Washburn (Jan. 14) 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. Johns leads the bench scoring effort with 7.6 points per game in 14 minutes. Her season-high of 21 points happened at home against Rogers State (Dec. 5) 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 Hunnicutt is averaging 6.9 points a game, and has connected on a team-high 26 threes this season. Her season-high of 15 was on the road against Pittsburg State (Jan 9).
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.
Hear The Bell
Round two between the Tigers and Lions as Fort Hays won 70-49 in Joplin on Jan. 21st. Hunnicutt and Johns led the scoring efforts from the bench with 12 and 10 points. Jaden Hobbs finished with 16 points and seven assists to go with three steals, Cydney Bergmann had 13 points and seven rebounds and Whitney Randall had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Last Time Out For Fort Hays State
Playing Northwest Missouri in Maryville, the Tigers won 70-47. It was the 15th consecutive victory and ensured that they have won at least 20 games in each of the last ten seasons. Olivia Hollenbeck had 14 points, Jaden Hobbs pickedup a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists, and Jessie Sallach led the bench scoring with 14 points.
