Kansas City, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team is set to face off with Missouri Western in the MIAA Women's Basketball Tournament inside Municipal Auditorium today at noon. The Lions are coming into the game with a 16 game winning streak which is tied for the school record set during the 1992-93 season. Southern advanced to the semifinals after taking out Washburn 62-54 on Thursday while the Griffons beat Central Missouri for the third time this season by a score of 69-55 last night. This is the seventh time the two teams have faced off in the MIAA Tournament with the Lions looking to snap a four game skid against Missouri Western and go back to the MIAA Championship game for the fourth time in school history making trips in 1993, 1994 and 1996 winning the title in the latter two year.
Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (23-5, 19-3 MIAA) vs. Missouri Western (21-8, 15-8 MIAA)
Dates: Mar. 5, 2021
Tip-Off: 12:00 PM
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Site: Muncipal Auditorium
Series Record: MWSU Leads 61-36 Overall, 4-2 in MIAA Tournament, 2-0 in Kansas City
Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 78-87 (6th Season Overall / at MSSU)
MWSU: Candi Whitaker, 48-32 (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
Lions On The Prowl Against Exotic Griffons
Following their win over Central Missouri in the MIAA Quarterfinals the Missouri Western Griffons will square off with the Lions for a chance to play in the MIAA Tournament Championship Sunday. The winner of this game will play the winner of the Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney game that will be on Saturday at 2:15pm. This season the Griffons fifth in the MIAA standings after going 15-8 in conference play and is currently 21-8 on the season while being the eighth team in the latest NCAA Division II Regional Rankings. After splitting the two games this season with the home team winning both contests this will be the second game in a row for the Lions that played them twice in the regular season. In the MIAA Tournament the Griffons hold a 4-2 advantage and is on a 4-0 run currently over the Lions. This season Western is lead by Connie Clark a second team All-MIAA selection averages 13.1 points and 8.8 rebounds a game while having 58 steals and 24 blocks to lead the team. Brionna Budgetts was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection and averages 12.5 points and 3.9 rebounds a game while connecting on 40 three's this season. Corbyn Cunningham was also a honorable mention All-MIAA selection with averages of 12.3 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor. Jordan Cunningham averages 8.0 points a game while providing 65 assists, Jaelyn Haggard is the weapon off the bench averaging 7.3 points a game with 48 made three's.
They Know Who We Are Now
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 for the first time this season, the Lions went on the road and took down #2 Fort Hays State and #14 Nebraska-Kearney. The Lions received votes in the WBCA poll five weeks ago now 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 16 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. With the announcement of the latest WBCA Division II Coaches Poll the Lions have received enough votes to be listed after not reviving enough votes for four straight week despite beating a third ranked opponent of the season and are one of the hottest teams in Division II.
Wayne Cavadi Said Who!
Known 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 16 game winning streak have taken out two ranked teams in back-to-back games on the road, beat a third ranked team at home and have established themselves atop the MIAA becoming champions for the first time in school history in the MIAA.
2021-22 Preseason MIAA Polls Were Wrong, Lions Rule
After being picked to finish 9/10 in the preseason polls the Lions did what most thought impossible and won their first ever MIAA regular season championship. The Lions will be the number one seed for the first time in program history for the MIAA tournament and are on a 16 game winning streak.
Wins Have Been A Plenty
Coming into the game on a 15 game winning streak in conference play the Lions are on a run that no other team in school history has even achieved in MIAA play, passing the nine game winning streak in MIAA play during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. The 16 game winning streak overall is tied with the school history set in 1992-93 and the longest in Ronnie Ressel's tenure. This is the first time the Lions have won more than ten games in a row since setting the school record of 16 straight wins in 1992-93 that also saw the school record for wins (27) set as well.
Stacking The Wins Up
The Lions' 19 MIAA wins this season is a school record in MIAA play moving ahead of the previous record set in the 2010-11 season that saw the Lions go 15-7 and finish tied for third that season. With 22 wins this season which is tied for the fourth most wins in a single season at Southern and is the most wins since the 1995-96 season that saw the Lions win 23 games.
That's A Lot Of Games
The Lions' are on a streak of 634 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 How About All-MSSU
This season the Lions came away with Ronnie Ressel being named the programs first ever MIAA Coach of the Year and Lacy Stokes created even more history. Lacy is not only the first Lion to be named MIAA Freshman of the year and was the first to be named to the first team All-MIAA as a freshman but is the first ever women's basketball player in MIAA history to come away with the Player and Freshman of the year in the same year. Lacy is the second Lion to have won MIAA Player of the year as Melissa Grider in 1995-96 won the award. Madi and Lacy Stokes were selected to the All-Defensive team as they helped the Lion to be the best team in the MIAA in defending the three and shots from the floor leading both at 36.7 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three. Madi was named to the All-MIAA third team alongside Amaya Johns to round out this season's All-MIAA selections.
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 over 2,000 points as a 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), Caryn Schumaker (87-91) and now Zoe Campbell (17-21) to become the Lions career leader in blocks with 124 presently. Madi set the record against #21 Missouri Western (Feb. 10) at home.
Swatting At A Historic Rate
Madi Stokes has quickly rose up the career blocking list at MSSU having the second best blocks per game total at 1.68 per game behind Joyce Falls (1986-88) who had a 1.69 blocks per game average.
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)
Where No Freshman Has Scored Before
Lacy set two freshman school records against Pittsburg State on Feb. 19th scoring 36 points for the freshman single-game record (that Stokes set previously with 33 points against Central Oklahoma on Dec. 2nd, 2021) in the win and breaking the freshman single-season scoring record that was set by Patti Killian (1977-78).
Lacy Named MIAA Athlete of the Week Yet Again
Freshman guard Lacy Stokes has had quite the impressive last six weeks picking up four of the six given MIAA Athlete of the Weeks (Weeks 9, 11, 12, 13). 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 an 13 game winning streak and atop the MIAA standings.
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 (88),steals per game (3.14), assists (159) and assist per game (5.7) and assist-turnover ratio (3.45).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 second in assist-turnover ratio and steals, fourth in steals per game, eighth in assists and ninth in assists per game.
School Freshman Records Are Getting Broken
Currently Lacy Stokes has the school freshman record for points scored in a game with 36 at Pittsburg State on Feb.19, 2022. The most games with 20 or more points scored by a freshman with 14 games currently. Has the freshman record for single-season steals with 88 currently which is good for the fifth most in school history for a single-season. Has four games of six or more steals the only freshman to ever have more than two such games in school history and her seven steals against Lincoln on February 7, 2022 is the second best tally for a freshman in school history. 2nd in freshman assists with 159 currently and the second best assist per game average for a freshman 5.7. Has the freshman single-season scoring with 545 points scored so far this season passing Patti Killian who set the school record for a freshman scoring 453 points in the 1977-78 season.
A 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 3.14 steals a game and 88 total steals while Stauffer (34), Hunnicutt (28) and Skiles (24) have steals. 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 in her first season in the Green and Gold is having a season to remember already having a seven steal performance against Lincoln (Feb. 7), posting 6 steals against Lincoln (Dec.18), Missouri Western twice (Jan. 3 and Feb. 10) while having a 5 steal game against McKendree (Dec. 13), Washburn (Jan. 13), #14 Nebraska-Kearney (Jan. 22) and Central Missouri (Feb. 5). Stokes is the first Lion since KaTonya Samuels (1996-97) to have four 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 four games of 6 or more steals in school history. Is the only freshman in school history to have eight games of five or more steals in a season. Only Jayme Callahan (1998-99) has had a game with more steals as a freshman than Lacy, finishing with eight against Ozark Christian (Nov. 14, 1998).
Who Wants To Get Blocked
This season the lions feature a trio of premier shot blockers in the MIAA in redshirt guard/forward Hailey Grant sophomore center Madi Stokes and junior guard/forward Layne Skiles. Stokes leads the team with 45 swats while Grant has 21 blocks and Skiles has 19 blocks on the season. The trio pace the Lions who average 3.9 blocks per game with 108 blocks to lead the MIAA in blocks per game and blocks.
Bench Mob Scores
This season the Lions have averaged 21.8 points per game as a bench unit and are led by junior Amaya Johns who averages 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. Cameron Call and Hailey Grant average 4.4 points a game with Call connecting on 25 three's and Grant averaging 4.6 rebounds, 21 blocks and 13 steals this season.
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.
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.
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.
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 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds a game while connecting on 34 threes so far and is shooting 34.7 percent from three. This season Johns is averaging 11.2 points and pulling down 4.8 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.
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 738 points, 122 three's, 136 free throws and 121 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. Became the 26th Lion to have 700+ points and 300+ rebounds in a career against #21 Missouri Western Feb. 10th and presently has 738 points and 359 rebounds.
Climbing The Three Point Ladder
Layne Skiles in her career is 122-330 (37.0) from three, ranking 11th in percentage with at least 1 make per game, 11th in makes and 12th for attempts in MSSU history.
Madi Joins 500 Career Point, Rebounds Club Against #2 Tigers
Currently Madi Stokes has 675 career points and has pulled down 600 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.
