MSSU women return to action at Pittsburg State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern women's basketball team hits the road to take on rival Pittsburg State tomorrow for the first action of the new year. Tip-off from John Lance Arena on Whetzel Court is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

Game Information
Teams: Missouri Southern (4-3, 4-3 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (5-3, 5-3 MIAA)
Date: Jan. 9, 2021
Tip-Off: 1:30 pm
Location: Pittsburg, Kan.
Site: John Lance Arena

Series Record: Gorillas, Leads the series 53-42

Coaches

MSSU: Ronnie Ressel, 51-71 (5th Season)
PSU: Amanda Davied, 43-23 (3rd Season)

Media Coverage

MSSU Radio: Mike McClure - Play by play - Fox Sports Joplin - 101.3, 107.9 FM, AM 1560 & 1340; KXMS 88.7 FM
Live Audio/Video/Stats - https://www.mssulions.com/coverage
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @MssuWbb

Anchors Down

The Lions are limiting opponents to 36.8 percent from the floor and 30.6 percent from the three-point line this season. Led individually by Madi Stokes 21 blocks and Carley Turnbull having nine 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 turnovers forced.

Bench Sparks

Freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicutt and junior guard/forward Amaya Johns are bringing it off the bench this season. Johns is second on the team in scoring averaging 9.7 per game in 15.7 minuets per game, while Hunnicutt is tied for a team-high with 11 made threes in the early going and has a scoring average of 8.9 per game in 21.3 minuets per game. 

Johns scored 21 points against Rogers State going 7-of-9 from the field, 1-of-2 from behind the three point line and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Hunnicutt announced herself to the Pride in the season opener against Central Oklahoma as she connected on four three pointers and finished the game with 14 points.

Athlete of the Week

Senior guard/forward Carley Turnbull became the latest Lion to be named MIAA Athlete of the Week (Week 3) after averaging 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal per game leading the Lions to wins over Northeastern State and Rogers State on home court in week three of the season. Turnbull was efficient from the field shooting 51.3 percent and was 82 percent from the charity stripe. The last Lion to win this award was Chelsey Henry in Jan. 2018.

Well Rested Lions

To kick-off the 2021 portion of the season the Lions have been resting since their game against Missouri Western on December 19th. With the hiatus set to end when the Lions take on rivals Pittsburg State in the 96th edition of the series.

Gorilla Returners

Picked to finish fourth in the MIAA, the starting guard spots will be headlined by first-team selection Kaylee DaMitz who led the conference in assists (5.5) and third-team selection Tristan Gegg who led the conference in scoring (17.9) last season. 

Maya Williams is back for another trip as the Carthage high school product finished the season with averages of 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. Sydnee Crain, Erin Davis, Ashton McCorry, and Julia Johnson are back as well for the Gorillas.

1-2-3 Punch

Kaylee DaMitz, Tristan Gegg, and Maya Williams are all adept at scoring in the paint, mid-range, or from behind the three point line. The three pronged attack that has been together for year three now, and have steadily been forces to recon with the best in the MIAA. 

Gegg led the conference in scoring last season and was a third-team selection. DaMitz was Freshman of the Year two seasons ago and was a first-team selection this past season after leading the conference in assists for the second consecutive season. Williams has been a steady scoring presence for the gorillas since her sophomore season and is having her best season shooting from behind the three point line.

Last Time Out For Pittsburg State

Playing Northwest Missouri the Gorillas never trailed and rolled onto a 80-50 win at home. Tristan Gegg had a game-high 15 points while dishing out six assists. Kaylee DaMitz had 12 points and seven assists. Julia Johnson had 13 points going 5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Maya Williams hit her season average as she posted 11 points. Sydnee Crain had a game-high four steals off the bench.