Preview- MSSU women to play number one Emporia State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Game InformationDate: Saturday December 20, 2014
Tip-Off: 12:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record:  ESU Leads, 51-23

Coaches
ESU: Jory Collins, 105-31(5th Season)
MSSU: Ronda Hubbard, 27-9 (2nd Season)

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: KBTN 99.7 FM, Mike McClure play-by-play
Internet Audio: mssulions.com
Webcast: mssulions.com
Live Stats: mssulions.com
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/missourisouthernlions
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MOSO_Wmns_Bball

MIAA Team Rankings - The Lions ranked 1st in the MIAA in scoring defense (49.0 ppg),  3-pt FG percentage (.413), free-throw percentage (.780), rebounding defense (27.9 rpg), 2nd in scoring margin (+28.6 ppg), 3-pt FG percentage defense (.278), 3rd in FG percentage defense (.341), rebounding margin (+13.9 rpg), assists (17.5 apg), steals (10.0 spg), Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.2), 4th in 3-point FGs made (7.1 per game), and 6th in blocks (3.5 bpg).

MIAA Individual Ranks - Sharese Jones is 9th in the MIAA in scoring with 15.0 ppg, 3rd in FG percentage as she is shooting 61.4% from the field hitting 43-70 , 8th in rebounding with 7.1 rpg, 12th in free throw percentage shooting 77.5% (31-40).
Nic Hartzog is 21st in the league in scoring with 12.5 ppg, 2nd in free throw percentage shooting 91.2%, 31-34 from the line, and T-2nd in steals with 2.5 spg.
Lex Fitzpatrick is T-3rd in the MIAA with 4.5 assists per game and 6th in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 2.6.
Shawnee Phillips is shooting 41.4% from downtown and ranks 10th in the MIAA.
Jenson Maydew comes in at 19th in rebounding pulling down 6.0 rebounds per contest.

National Stat Leaders - The Lions are 2nd in NCAA D2 in scoring defense (allowing just 49.0 ppg) and scoring margin (+28.6 ppg). Southern is also 8th in rebound margin (+13.8 rpg), while they are 10th in free throw percentage shooting 78% as a team. The Lions are also ranked 9th in Three-point field-goal percentage shooting 41.3% from downtown and 28th in field-goal percentage defense allowing their opponents just 34.2% shooting from the floor. Sharese Jones is 15th in all of NCAA D2 in field-goal percentage shooting 61.4% from the floor. Nic Hartzog is 20th in free throw percentage shooting 91.2 % and Lex Fitzpatrick is ranked 23rd in Assist/Turnover Ratio at 2.57.

Three Point Streak - The Lions have made a three pointer in 418 consecutive games. The last time Southern did not make a shot from downtown was in a 68-53 loss to Southern Arkansas on Nov. 20, 1999.

Defensive effort - The Lions have not allowed 100 points to an opponent since Emporia State defeated Southern 102-60 on Feb. 12, 2000. That is 398 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading at the half - The Lions have led the game at the half in eight of nine games this season and are 8-0. Southern is 20-4 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Outshoot the Opponents - Southern has out-shot their opponents in six out of nine games this season and are 22-3 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Dropping Dimes - The Lions dropped more dimes than their opponents in seven out of nine games this season and are 24-4 when that happens all time under Coach Hubbard. The Lions set a new team record for assists in a game with 33 assists on 39 made buckets against Central Christian on November 25, 2014.

Glass Cleaners - The Lions, as a team out rebounded eight of their nine opponents this season and are 25-5 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.