MSSU women to play host to Rogers State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's basketball team is set to host the Rogers State Hillcats inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center tomorrow. Tip-off from Robert Corn Court is set for 1:30 pm.

Game Information

Teams: Missouri Southern (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) vs. Rogers State (1-2, 1-2 MIAA)
Date: Dec. 5, 2020
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Robert Corn Court inside Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series Record: Southern leads 3-0

Coaches

MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 49-71 (5th Season)
RSU: Kyle Bent, 113-78 (7th Season Overall), 19-40 (3rd Season @ Rogers State)

Anchors Down 

The Lions are limiting opponents to 35.4 percent from the floor and 28.9 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes Division II leading block total (12) and Carley Turnbull having eight steals already the Lions are primmed to shut down teams down low and on the perimeter. While ranking atop the MIAA in team blocks and steals in the early going.

1,000-Point Scorer Joins the Pride

Carley Turnbull comes to Southern having already scored over 1,000 points in her career, at Monmouth College a Division III institution in Illinois. She averaged 14.5 points per game and pulled down 5.9 rebounds per game over her three years for the Fighting Scots, finishing with 1,131 points. Turnbull is already off to a hot start for the Lions finishing the season opener against Central Oklahoma with a team-high 15 points and snatched away two steals. Turnbull turned a dominate performance against Northeastern State in the home opener posting 27 points, while collecting five rebounds, dishing out four assists, blocking a shot and getting two steals.

Hillcats Returners

Coming into the season the Hillcats will have seven players back from last season's (4-24 Overall, 2-17 MIAA). Samariah Thompson is the leading scorer this season averaging 22.7 points per game after averaging 8.7 a season ago.

Two Game Offense

Early in the season a pattern is emerging that junior center Maya Buckhanon who transferred in from Division I Memphis and junior guard Samariah Thompson like to score. In the game against Pittsburg State both finished with at least 20 points for the first time this season and both are averaging more than 14 points a game. Buckhanon is shooting 60 percent from the field and has four blocks already. Thompson has a team-high six made three pointers and has gone 24-of-27 from the free throw line.