The Missouri Southern women's basketball team (14-15, 6-13 MIAA) opens MIAA tournament play as the 10th-seed facing off against the 7th-seeded Central Oklahoma Bronchos (18-11, 9-9 MIAA) in the fourth game of the day and second on the women's bracket in the 8:15 pm primetime slot tomorrow inside Municipal Auditorium.
Game Information
Date: Wednesday March 6, 2019
Tip-Off: 2:00 pm
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Site: Municipal Auditorium
Series Record: MSSU, leads 14-13
Picking Up the Scent: Five Components on Opponents
Central Oklahoma
National Rankings (301 schools):
23rd in 3-pointers made (238)
27th in 3-pointers attempted (690)
34th in 3-pointers per game (8.2)
6'0 junior forward Ireon Smith has become a major piece when it comes to the Bronchos defense and limiting opponents on second-chance opportunities as she finished top-five in the MIAA with 47 block shots (3rd), 1.62 block shots per game (4th), 224 total rebounds (4th), and 7.7 rebounds per game (5th)
Return nine total players, including All-MIAA honorable mention recipient senior guard Blake Blessington while losing seniors Melinda Murillo (1st) and All-MIAA defender Jesheon Cooper (3rd) along with Freshman of the Year Jo'Nah Johnson who transferred to NEO for her sophomore season
Bring in three transfers including former Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year junior guard Micayla Haynes while playing for Arkansas-Fort Smith and averaging 10.0 points per game and leading the team with 63 three-point baskets along with 49 steals, forward McKenna Pulley from Northern Oklahoma for 12.0 points per game on 43-percent shooting from the field and grabbing 6.0 rebounds, and sophomore Kaci Richardson of the Seminole scoring 14.4 points and grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game together with a 33-point game against Kilgore.
Recorded a 6-4 record in the final ten games entering the MIAA tournament, losses include to four of the top-five seeds in the tournament (No. 1 Fort Hays State, No. 2 Central Missouri, No. 4 Washburn, and No. 5 Emporia State)
Quick Notes
Stop the Polls Because the Bracket is Set!
The Lions were picked to finish 10th and actually secured the tenth spot into the MIAA tournament on the final day after defeating Nebraska-Kearney by three on the road (59-56) while Southwest Baptist fell to Lindenwood earlier last Saturday. Defending NCAA Champions Central Missouri did not repeat as Fort Hays State reigned supreme in 2018-19, taking the No. 1 seed and UCM ending up with the No. 2 seed. LWU made the biggest leap from being picked eighth to becoming a top-25 competitor and the third seed. Washburn remained in the four while Emporia State and Pittsburg State followed in fifth and sixth. FHSU (3) and UCM (24) rounded out the MIAA in the final Division II WBCA Poll before tournament play by remaining at three
and 24.
Tournament Time
The Lions make their 35th appearance in the post-season through competing in the MAIAW, NAIA, and then for the first time in 1992 as part of the MIAA. Southern is looking to advance to the second round for the first time since the 2015-16 season and previously 2008-09 without playing next opponent Central Oklahoma at all outside of the regular season. MSSU has won the MIAA tournament twice in 1994 and 1996 along with taking the 1982 NAIA District 16 Tournament title as well.
Welcome to the Club
Chelsey Henry soared over the 1,000 career-point barrier against Illinois-Springfield and has pushed her way safely into the top-10 with 1,287 points (7th) and now is trailing Melissa Grider (1,353) by 66 points for sixth on the MSSU All-Time scoring list with playoff basketball about to begin.
Next Up
The winner between the Lions and Bronchos will face second-seeded Central Missouri on Thursday at 8:15 pm in game four on the night.
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