MSSU women try for first win on road at Newman University

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern State University women's basketball team continues the opening week road trip against Newman, for the Lions this will be the second game of the season while the Jets are playing in their first. Tip off from Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan. is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) at Newman (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020

Tip-Off: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Site: Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: Southern, leads 6-1

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 107.9 and AM 1560
Live Coverage: https://www.mssulions.com/coverage

Preseason Poll

The Lions were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA after going 10-18 overall and 7-12 in MIAA play during the 2019-20 campaign. Emporia State was picked to win the MIAA with 4 first-place votes with Nebraska-Kearney picking up 6 first-place votes in second and defending Conference Campions Central Missouri rounding out the top three with 3 first-place votes. Pittsburg State was projected to finish fourth while Fort Hays State picked up the other first-place vote and rounded out the top-five.

Newman Returners

The Jets said goodbye to leading scorer Kaitlyn Potter last year. Potter finished the season third in the MIAA in scoring with 16.8, and was second in three pointers made (90). Back for this season are six seniors, two juniors and sophomores. 

The leading returning in scoring is Madison Birnbaum who averaged 6.6 while hauling in 4.4 rebounds a game off the bench. Abbey George is back after leading the Jets in rebounding last year with 4.6 per game coming mostly off the bench. And the leading marksmen returning is Haley Albers who connected on 35 three pointers last season playing mostly as a starter.

Year Two

Year one of the Jets in the MIAA almost included a postseason appearance just missing out by one win. Year Two looks for the Jets to get back into postseason play once again, while the polls picked them to finish eleventh in the preseason. 

Bringing back five girls that have at least started 10 games from this past season and having the flexibility of having different lineups in key situations should make the Jets a hard opponent to crack with all they throw at you.