MSSU women to play Lindenwood tonight

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern Women (18-6, 12-5 MIAA) are looking to secure a bye to Kansas City in the MIAA Post-Season Tournament as they host Lindenwood (11-14, 4-14 MIAA) Wednesday night in Joplin.

Game Information
Date: Wednesday February 25, 2015
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Corn Court/Leggett & Platt Athletic Center

The Series
Series Record:  MSSU leads, 7-0
Series History: This is just the eighth meeting in the battle of the Lions as Southern holds a 7-0 advantage over Lindenwood.Earlier this season Southern went into St. Charles and came away with a 79-70 win on January 15.Southern is 3-0 in Joplin, including a 2-0 record inside The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.Since joining the MIAA Lindenwood is 0-4 against Missouri Southern and 0-1 inside LPAC. 

Coaches
LWU: Tony Francis, 63-62 (5th Season)
MSSU: Ronda Hubbard, 37-14 (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 (.777), 2nd in rebounding defense (31.5 rpg), 3-pt FG percentage (.356), 3rd in 3-pt FG percentage defense (.282), 4th in rebounding margin (+5.2 rpg), scoring defense (58.7 ppg), scoring margin (+10.0 ppg), 6th in 3-pt FG made (6.0 per game), field goal percentage (.419), 7th in steals (7.8 spg), assists (12.7 apg), and assist/turnover ratio (0.8).

MIAA Individual Ranks - Sharese Jones is 11th in the MIAA in scoring with 14.0 ppg, 7th in FG percentage as she is shooting 50.5% from the field hitting 112-222, 5th in rebounding with 7.1 rpg, 5th in free throw percentage shooting 83.6% (102-122).Nic Hartzog is 12th in the league in scoring with 13.7 ppg, 2nd in free throw percentage shooting 85.6%, 119-139 from the line, and 1st in steals with 2.3 spg.Lex Fitzpatrick is 10th in the MIAA with 3.1 assists per game and 13th in assist/turnover ratio with a 1.5 ratio. 

National Stat Leaders - The Lions are 9th in NCAA D2 in free throw percentage shooting 78.1% as a team and 25th in scoring defense allowing just 58.5 ppg.  The Lions are also 40th in scoring margin with a +10.6 ppg, 44th in rebounding margin +5.4 rpg, and 42nd in 3-pt FG percentage shooting 35.7%. Nic Hartzog is 42nd in free throw percentage shooting 84.7 %  and 43rd in steals per game with 2.45 per contest.

Dialing Long Distance - The Lions have made a three pointer in 433 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 413 straight games without allowing 100+ points.

Leading At The Half - The Lions have led the game at the half in 15 of 24 games this season and are 14-1. Southern is 25-5 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Sharp Shooting - Southern has out-shot their opponents in 12 out of 24 games this season and are 27-4 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.

Dropping Dimes - The Lions dropped more dimes than their opponents in 17 out of 24 games this season and are 32-5 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 16 of their 24 opponents this season and are 31-6 when that happens under Coach Hubbard.