Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team hosts #21 Missouri Western in a matchup atop the MIAA standings and will also serve as the Pink Game for Southern. The Lions are currently tied for first with #4 Fort Hays State at 13-3 in MIAA play while the Griffons sit a half game back at 12-3. Both teams are riding winning streak with the Lions winners of their last nine and Western winning their last six games. Tip-off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 5:30pm.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (16-5, 13-3 MIAA) vs. Missouri Western (18-3, 12-3 MIAA)
Dates: Feb. 10, 2021
Tip-Off: 5:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Griffons lead 61-35 Overall, Lions lead 26-20 in Joplin
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 72-87 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
MWSU: Candi Whitaker, 45-27 (3rd Season Overall / at MWSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - SOMO Sports Joplin - 101.3, AM 1560
Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb
Streaks A Plenty
Coming into the game on an nine game winning streak in conference play the Lions have tied the school record in MIAA play for consecutive conference wins set in 1993-94 and repeated in 1994-95. The nine game winning streak overall is tied for the fifth longest streak in school history and is the longest in
Ronnie Ressel's tenure. The Lions had a 10 game winning streak in 1995-96 and 1984-85, a 11 game streak during the 1985-86 season, won 12 games at the end of the 1974-75 and the beginning of the 1975-76 season and the school record of 16 straight wins was during the 1992-93 season.
Wins Keep On Stacking Up
The Lions 13 MIAA wins so far are tied for the third most in school history and the most since the 2014-15 season where they posted a 14-5 record to finish fourth in the MIAA. This season's 16 wins are tied for 11th in school history for a season and the most since the 2015-16 season, finishing 18-12 that season.
Griffions Soaring
Missouri Western was picked to finish eighth in the MIAA preseason polls after going 6-16 last year to finish 11th in the MIAA standings. This season the Griffons are 18-3 and 12-3 in MIAA action. Brionna Budgetts leads the team with 13.4 points a game and is a threat from deep shooting 34-of-85 from deep. Connie Clarke is a do it all guard averaging 12.9 points, 8.8 rebounds a game while collecting 40 steals and 19 blocks so far. Corbyn Cunningham is back and averaging 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. Jaelyn Haggard is the threat off the bench scoring 8.4 points a game while connecting on 37 three's in her graduate season in her hometown. Jordan Cunningham (no relation to Corbyn) is averaging 8.0 points a game and has provided 45 assists the most of any projected starter this season. Riding in on a six game winning streak the Griffons are currently in third in the MIAA standings a half game behind the Lions and Fort Hays State atop the standings.
Catching People's Attention
Following their first appearance in the D2SIDA Regional Poll in the 2021-22 season after a 3-0 week that saw Lacy Stokes named MIAA WBB Athlete of the Week, the Lions went on the road and took down #2 Fort Hays State and #14 Nebraska-Kearney. The Lions were receiving votes in the WBCA poll two weeks ago and beat ranked opponents back-to-back for the first time since taking out #4 Emporia State and #9 Washburn at home during the 2003-04 season. Riding a nine game winning streak the Lions are looking to be ranked in the top-25 for the first time since Dec. 16, 2014 where the Lions were ranked #22.
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 627 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 So 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). Has now passed Jenson Maydew (14-18) and Caryn Schumaker (87-91) to be second in career blocks just two blocks away from passing Zoe Campbell (17-21) for the school record.
Swatting At A Historic Rate
Madi Stokes has quickly rose up the career blocking list at MSSU having the best blocks per game total at 1.71 per game ahead of 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 blocks (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 blocks, 15th in defensive rebounds per game, 19th in blocks per game, 21st in rebounds per game and 34th in double-doubles.
20-20 Clubbing
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.
Crossing The Century Mark
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.
A 30-20 What A Feat
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)
Trifecta Of Athlete Of The Week's For Lacy
Freshman guard Lacy Stokes has had quite the impressive last five weeks picking up three of the five given MIAA Athlete of the Weeks (Week Nine, Eleven and Twelve). Lacy has established herself as one of the best freshman in not only the MIAA but Division II with her performances of late and has help guide the Lions to a nine game winning streak and atop the MIAA standings.
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 7.2 points and 2.8 rebounds a game while connecting on a team-high 31 threes so far and is shooting 36.5 percent from three. This season Johns is averaging 11.7 points and pulling down 4.9 rebounds a game. Against Lincoln (Feb. 7, 2021) Amaya went off for a career-high 24 points going 7-11 from the field, 3-6 from three and went 7-10 from the free throw line.
Den Of Thieves
This season Lacy Stokes, Kaitlin Hunnicutt, Layne Skiles and Brooke Stauffer have established themselves as top talents in stealing the ball from the opposition. Stokes leads the MIAA with 3.52 steals a game and 74 total steals while Skiles (22), Stauffer (21), and Hunnicutt has (20) steals to rank in the top-30 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 twice (Dec.18 and Feb. 7) and Missouri Western (Jan. 3) while having a 5 steal game against McKendree (Dec. 13), Washburn (Jan. 13), #14 Nebraska-Kearney (Jan. 22) and Central Missorui (Feb. 5). Stokes is the first Lion since KaTonya Samuels (1996-97) to have three 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. Is the first freshman to ever have three games of 6 or more steals in school history. Is the only freshman in school history to have seven games of five or more steals in a season.
Giving And Taking Of The Ball
True freshman Lacy Stokes is adept at passing and stealing the ball highlighted by the fact that she leads the MIAA in steals (74),steals per game (3.52), assists (122) and assist per game (5.8) and assist-turnover ratio (3.49).Across Division II she leads freshman in steals, steals per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, assists per game and assists. Across Division II ranks overall Lacy is first in assist-turnover ratio, third in steals, fourth in steals per game, fifth in assists and eighth in assists 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. Stokes leads the team with 35 and Grant has 18 blocks on the season. The pairing pace the Lions who average 3.9 blocks per game with 82 blocks to lead the MIAA in blocks per game and blocks.
Bench Mob Scores
This season the Lions have averaged 24.3 points per game as a bench unit and are led by junior guard/forward Amaya Johns who averages 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Sophomore guard Cameron Call is second averaging 6.1 points per game and is shooting .368 from three (25-68) and has dished out 17 assists while averaging 19.2 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 Creates A Historic Quadfecta
It is not every day you set a new standard but against Northeastern State (Jan. 11, 2022) Layne Skiles did that. Skiles who currently has 681 points, 113 three's, 120 free throws and 114 assists in her career becoming the first Lion to have 500+ points, 100+ three's, free throws and assists in a career. Became the 14th Lion to have 100+ three's, the 52nd to have 500+ points and 100+ free throws and the 53rd Lion to have 100+ career assists since 1984-85. Looking to become the 26th Lion to have 700+ points and 300+ rebounds in a career, currently with 681 points and 318 rebounds.
Climb The Three Point Ladder
Layne Skiles in her career is 113-300 (37.7) from three, ranking 11th in percentage with at least 1 make per game, 12th in makes and13th in attempts in MSSU history.
Madi Joins 500 Career Point, Rebounds Club Against #2 Tigers
Currently Madi Stokes has 602 career points and has pulled down 540 rebounds so far in her career, becoming the 13th Lion to have 500+ career points and rebounds and passed Caryn Schumaker (1987-91) in career blocks against #14 Nebraska-Kearney to have the most blocks to go with 500 points and rebounds in a career.
Wayne Cavadi Said Who!
Know as the DII guy Wayne Cavadi listed five under-the-radar teams that could make a run in the DII Women's Basketball Tournament, and Missouri Southern was the first school mentioned. The Lions are currently on a nine game winning streak have taken out two ranked teams in back-to-back games on the road and have established themselves in the hunt for the MIAA regular season championship during the streak.
NCAA Stat Rankings (As of Feb. 7th)
TEAM: As a team the Lions rank 32nd in Division II in three's made (161), 34th in assist-turnover ratio (1.07), 35th in scoring margin (+12.6), 37th in fewest turnovers per game (13.7), 39th in three's made per game (7.7) and three's attempted (477), 40th in field goal percentage defense (36.1), 41st in blocks (82), 45th in defensive rebounds per game (28.4), 48th in scoring offense (72.5), 49th in blocks per game (3.9) and turnover margin (+3.67).
Lacy Stokes: Leads Division II in assist-turnover ratio (3.49), third in steals (74), fourth in steals per game (3.52) and free throws attempted (147), fifth in assists (122), eighth in assists per game (5.8), 15th in free throws made (101) and 27th in field goals attempted (315).
Madi Stokes: In Division II ranks 31st in blocks per game (1.94) and 37th in blocks (35).
MIAA Stat Rankings (As of Feb. 7th)
TEAM: Leads the MIAA in blocks (82), blocks per game (3.9) and field goal percentage defense (36.1). Second in defensive rebounds per game (28.4), rebounds per game (39.9), three point field goal percentage defense (27.4), three's made and attempted (161-477), three's made a game (7.7) and three point percentage (33.8). Third in offensive rebounds per game (11.4), scoring margin (12.6) and turnovers forced per game (17.3). Fourth in assist-turnover ratio (1.07), assists (308), assists per game (14.7), rebounds (837), scoring defense (59.9), turnover margin (+3.67) and win-loss percentage (76.2). Fifth in fewest turnovers committed (287), steals per game (8.5) and fewest turnovers per game (13.7).
Lacy Stokes: Leads the MIAA in assist-turnover ratio (3.49), assists (122), assists per game (5.8), free throws attempted (147), steals (74) and steals per game (3.52). Fourth in free throws made (101), fifth in field goals attempted (315), sixth in points per game (17.4), seventh in field goals made (121) and minutes played per game (32:91), ninth in field goal percentage among qualified shooters (38.4) and 10th in minutes played (691:12).
Madi Stokes: Leads the MIAA in blocks per game (1.94), second in blocks (35), eighth in defensive rebound per game (5.4), ninth in rebounds per game (7.1) and 11th in rebounds (128).
Hailey Grant: Ranks 11th in the MIAA in blocks (18) and 12th blocks per game (0.86).
