MSSU women's basketball picked ninth and 10th in MIAA preseason polls

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's basketball squad has been picked ninth and tenth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) coaches and media preseason polls announced Wednesday morning at MIAA Media Day inside the College Basketball Experience.

The Lions finished 14-16 overall and 6-13 in the conference as well as second in the league in rebounding (39.7 rpg) towards securing a berth into the postseason tournament last March.

Southern returns everyone but two (one starter) from last season, including MIAA honorable mention Chasidee Owens, who led the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg) and finished second in scoring (11.5 ppg).

Senior guard Destiny Cozart is also back as the team's leader in assists (1.5 apg) and steals (1.3 spg) to boost the deep and talented back court of juniors Krista Clark and Morgan Brightwell, and sophomores Amber Buch and Layne Skiles.

Defending MIAA regular season and tournament champions, Fort Hays State, took first in both polls with the majority of first-place votes. 2018 NCAA champion Central Missouri followed in second while Washburn and Pittsburg State swap the third and fourth slot in both polls and Emporia State rounded out the top five in fifth.

In preparing for the 2019-20 season, Missouri Southern heads to Wichita, Kansas to play the Wichita State Shockers on Nov. 4 at 6:30 pm for the second-straight year.
2019-2020 MIAA Women's Basketball Preaseason Coaches Poll
1. Fort Hays State (10) - 166 points
2. Central Missouri (4) - 160 points
3. Washburn - 134 points
4. Pittsburg State - 131 points
5. Emporia State - 130 points
6. Nebraska Kearney - 100 points
7. Central Oklahoma - 97 points
8. Newman - 83 points
9. Missouri Southern - 67 points
10. Northwest Missouri - 64 points
11. Missouri Western - 62 points
12. Northeastern State - 37 points
13. Rogers State - 25 points
14. Lincoln - 17 points
Coaches Are Not Allowed To Vote For Their Own Team


2019-2020 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1. Fort Hays State (14) - 271 points
2. Central Missouri (6) - 263 points
3. Pittsburg State - 227 points
4. Washburn - 217 points
5. Emporia State - 213 points
6. Nebraska Kearney - 161 points
7. Central Oklahoma - 160 points
8. Missouri Western - 131 points
9. Newman - 120 points
10. Missouri Southern - 109 points
11. Northwest Missouri - 84 points
12. Rogers State - 73 points
13. Northeastern State - 47 points
14. Lincoln - 23 points