Preview- MSSU women to face Central Missouri

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Game Information
Date: Saturday January 31, 2015
Tip-Off: 1:00 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record:  UCM leads, 35-20

Coaches
UCM: Dave Slifer, 207-109 (11th Season/UCM);591-208 (26th Season/Overall)
MSSU: Ronda Hubbard, 32-13 (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 free throw percentage (.767), rebounding defense (30.6 rpg), 3rd in 3-pt FG percentage (.356), 3-pt FG percentage defense (.296), 4th in reboundin margin (+6.3 rpg), scoring defense (56.4 ppg), steals (8.4 spg),  5th in scoring margin (+12.2 ppg), 3-pt FG made (6.2 per game), 6th in FG percentage (.427), and 6th in assists (13.5 apg).

MIAA Individual Ranks - Sharese Jones is 9th in the MIAA in scoring with 14.9 ppg, 4th in FG percentage as she is shooting 55.3% from the field hitting 89-161, T-6th in rebounding with 7.4 rpg, 6th in free throw percentage shooting 82.5% (66-80).
Nic Hartzog is 17th in the league in scoring with 12.5 ppg, 3rd in free throw percentage shooting 84.7%, 72-85 from the line, and 2nd in steals with 2.2 spg.
Lex Fitzpatrick is 9th in the MIAA with 3.2 assists per game. 

National Stat Leaders - The Lions are 13th in NCAA D2 in free throw percentage shooting 76.7% as a team and in scoring defense allowing just 56.4 ppg.  The Lions are also 31st in scoring margin with a +13.3 ppg, 34th in rebounding margin +6.2 rpg, and 49th in 3-pt FG percentage shooting 35.6%. Sharese Jones is 23rd in all of NCAA D2 in field-goal percentage shooting 55.3% from the floor and Nic Hartzog is 66th in free throw percentage shooting 84.7 % .

Dialing long distance - The Lions have made a three pointer in 427 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 407 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading at the half - The Lions have led the game at the half in 12 of 18 games this season and are 11-1. Southern is 22-5 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Outshoot the Opponents - Southern has out-shot their opponents in 10 out of 18 games this season and are 25-4 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Dropping Dimes - The Lions dropped more dimes than their opponents in 12 out of 18 games this season and are 28-5 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 12 of their 18 opponents this season and are 28-6 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.