Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Women's basketball team (3-4, 0-2 MIAA) is set to continue conference play against the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma (2-6, 1-1 MIAA) in Joplin, Missouri on Thursday, December 7, at 5:30 PM after a 73-55 loss to Missouri Western on Saturday, December 2.

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern vs Central Oklahoma
Date: December 7
Tip-Off: 5:30 PM
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Lions lead 19-16 | Last Meeting: 1/28/2023, MSSU won 85-71

Coaches
MSSU: Ronnie Ressel | 8th season at MSSU | 112-100 record
UCO: Emma Andrews | 2nd season at UCO | 13-23 record

Media Coverage
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/mssuwbb
Lions on Twitter: @mssuwbb; @mososports
Lions on Instagram: @mssuwbb

Scouting the Lions
The Lions continue conference play against Central Oklahoma after previously losing both conference games against Missouri Western, 73-55, and Northwest Missouri, 69-59. Prior to MIAA play, the Lions competed in the Rambelle Thanksgiving Classic in San Angelo, Texas, going 1-1 with a loss to Angelo State, 80-61, and then getting a blow out victory over Midwestern State, 90-49.

Kaitlin Hunnicutt led the Lions in the loss to Missouri Western with a season-high 17 points (5-14 FG, 3-4 FT) and a team-leading seven rebounds. Maggie Sockey posted 13 points (2-5 FG, 9-9 FT), three rebounds and one assist. 

Brandi Hudson leads the Lions in points per game with 12.6 ppg. Two other Lions average double-digit points per game as well, Kryslyn Jones (11.3) and Mia Topping (10.0). Ryan Franklin leads the rebounding category with 7.0 rpg.

Scouting the Bronchos
The Bronchos of Central Oklahoma had a slow start to the season, losing five straight non-conference games to begin the season against Mary (75-73), Northwestern Oklahoma State (68-60), Cameron (63-60), Southern Nazarene (69-50 and Texas A&M International (99-72). The Griffons then grabbed their first win of the season over Oklahoma Christian, 89-75. UCO opened their MIAA conference season at home with a 1-1 conference record after losing the opener to #3 Central Missouri, 63-47, but then defeating Lincoln, 71-64.

Leading the scoring for Central Oklahoma is Reagan Fox, a 5-9 sophomore forward. Through eight games, Fox is averaging 10.1 points per game on 35.9% shooting from the field and 44.1% shooting from beyond the arch. She also averages 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

The next leading scorer for the Bronchos is Karly Wadsworth, who averages 9.9 points per game. The rebounding category is led by Aspen Williston, averaging 5.9 per game.

The Missouri Southern women's basketball season is presented by People's Bank of Seneca, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.