Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team travels to Northeastern State tomorrow looking to snap a two game losing streak on the road. Tip-off from the NSU Events Center in Tahlequah, Okla. is set for 5:30 pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (7-5, 4-3 MIAA) at Northeastern State (3-9, 1-5 MIAA)
Dates: Jan. 11, 2021
Tip-Off: 5:30 PM
Location: Tahlequah, Okla.
Site: NSU Events Center
Series Record: Lions lead 18-17 overall, RiverHawks lead 12-3 in Tahlequah, Okla.
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 63-87 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
NSU: Fala Suiaunoa
, 131-159 (11th Season Overall), 30-83 (5th season at NSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - SOMO 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
RiverHawks Report
Northeastern State was picked to finish 11th in the MIAA preseason polls after going 6-16 last year finishing 10th in MIAA standings. Coming into the match-up with the Lions the RiverHawks have a 3-9, 1-5 MIAA record having won a game each at home, on the road and at a neutral site. Cenia Hayes is gone after being an MIAA honorable mention a season ago while Zaria Collins is back. Collins leads the team in scoring at 15.1 per game while pulling down 6.6 rebounds a night. The Lee twins (Maegan and Morgan) are back for their senior season's with Maegan scoring 9.3 points a night and Morgan having a team-high 17 steals. The third Lee (Courtney) of no relation to the twins got her first start of the season against Newman playing a season-high 26 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds while adding five points. Ashton Hackler led the RiverHawks in their 67-57 win over Newman last time out with 18 points (6-9 from the field, 3-5 from three, 3-4 from free throws).
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 618 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 1.60 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.
Corn Dogs Jackie
The Lions secured a 103-58 home victory over Lincoln on December 18th in the last game of 2021 for the program. Reaching the 100 point total for the second time during Ronnie Ressel's tenure with the other coming on December 30, 2017 at home against Graceland in a 100-44 win. This was the most points scored by the Lions inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center since a 104-28 win over Ozark Christian on December 6, 2005.
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 Had 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 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds a game while connecting on a team-high 22 threes so far and is shooting 39.3 percent from three. This season Johns is averaging 10.3 points and pulling down 4.7 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 3.08 steals a game and 37 total steals while Hunnicutt (14) and Skiles (15) 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 (Dec.13).
Historic Thievery
Lacy Stokes is her first season in the Green and Gold is having a season to remember already posting 6 steals against Lincoln (Dec.18) and Missouri Western (Jan. 3) while having a 5 steal game against McKendree. Stokes is the first Lion since Alexis Fitzpatrick (2013-14) to have two 6+ steal games in a season and is also the first freshman since Jayme Callahan (1998-99) to have two 6+ steal games in a season. No freshman has ever had three games of 6 or more steals in school history.
Quick Hands
True freshman Lacy Stokes is adept at passing and stealing the ball highlighted by the fact that she leads the MIAA in steals (37) and steals per game (3.08) while also leading the conference in assist per game (6.08) and being second in total assists (73) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.32). Across Division II she leads freshman in steals, assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio and second in assists and steals per game.
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 team with 14 and Stokes has 13 blocks on the season. The pairing pace the Lions who average 3.6 blocks per game sixth in the MIAA and are ninth in total blocks with 43 through 12 games.
Bench Scoring Coming Alive
This season the Lions have averaged 25.6 points per game as a bench unit and are led by sophomore center Madi Stokes who averages 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds a game while blocking 13 shots and is shooting .580 from the field (47-81). Sophomore guard Cameron Call is second averaging 6.8 points per game and is shooting .370 from three (17-46) and has dished out 15 assists while averaging 21.5 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.
Three's A Raining
In the 103-58 home win over Lincoln the Lions tied two school records for three point shooting. going 14-34 from deep the Lions achieved 14 made threes for the fourth time in school history and the first since January 25, 2003 at Truman State in which they set a school record with 34 attempts from deep as well. Jacquie Rzeszut went 7-16 and Katie Deen was 4-11 in that game against Truman.
Skiles To Create 500 Career Points, 100 Assists, Made Free Throws, Three's Club
Currently Layne Skiles has 609 points, 103 assists, 114 made free throws and 97 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 516 career points and has pulled down 467 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 (As of Jan. 6th)
TEAM: The Lions rank 31st in scoring offense (75.7), 32nd in three's made per game (7.9), 35th in three's made (95) and three point percentage (34.7), 42nd in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.06) and 48th in turnovers per game (14.5).
Lacy Stokes: In division II ranks fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.32), sixth in assists per game (6.1) and free throws attempted (87), ninth in assists (73), 11th in steals (37), 14th in steals per game (3.08), 17th in free throws made (60) and 41st in field goals attempted (178).
Madi Stokes: Ranks 29th in Division II in field goal percentage (58.0 going 47-81).
MIAA Stats (As of Jan. 10th)
TEAM: Rank in the MIAA second in three point percentage (34.7), third in three's per game (7.9) and turnovers forced (18.5). Fourth in turnover margin (+4.00), offensive rebounds per game (12.3), scoring margin (+11.0) scoring offense (75.7) and three's made (95). Fifth in assists per game (15.3) and rebounds per game (39.25). Sixth in blocks per game (3.6), defensive rebounds per game (26.9) and steals per game (8.3).
Lacy Stokes: Leads the MIAA in steals (37) steals per game (3.08) and assists per game (6.08). Rank second in assists (73), assist-to-turnover ratio 3.32) and free throws attempted (87). Fourth in free throws made (60), sixth in points per game (16.6), tenth in minutes played per game (31.3) and 13th in rebounds per game (5.7).
Madi Stokes: Leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (58.0 going 47-81), fifth in blocked shots per game (1.44), 11th in rebounds per game (6.1) and 12th in blocks (13).
Hailey Grant: Ranks ninth in blocks (14) and tenth in blocks per game (1.17) in the MIAA.
Kaitlin Hunnicutt: Ranks ninth in the MIAA in three's made per game (1.83) and 13th in made three's (22).
