Missouri Southern women's basketball adds five recruits

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern women's basketball coach Ronnie Ressel has announced the addition of five individuals to the program during the early signing period.

Mia Topping

Mia Topping is a 5-7 guard that hails from Fort Worth, Texas. Topping prepped at Timber Creek High School where she was a letter winner for coach Tina Demichelle and the Falcons. 

A first-team All-District and selection as a sophomore and junior, Topping has averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in her career. She helped her team to back-to-back District Championships and has been a three-time Academic All-District pick. Topping was her Team MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.The daughter of Gene and Teresa Topping, Mia plans to major in nursing at Southern.

"Mia is an aggressive guard that can score at all three levels and does a great job of getting her teammates involved," Ressel said. "She has the ability to play either guard position. Mia comes from a great family and we are excited she will be a part of the Lion Family."

Angelina Humphreys

Anjelina Humphreys is a 5-10 forward from San Angelo, Texas. She prepped at Central High School where she was a four-year letter winner for coach Landon Dyer and the Bobcats. A three-time All-District pick so far, Humphreys has also been a three-time Academic All-District pick. She has served as a team captain twice and helped her team to the State playoffs each year.

The daughter of Joe and Laura Humphreys, Angelina plans to major in pre-medicine and biology at Southern.

"Anjelina is a versatile forward that can play inside or out," Ressel said. "She loves to compete on both ends of the floor. Anjelina comes from a great family and we are excited that she is going to be a part of the Lion Family."

Brittney Flexer

Brittney Flexer is a 5-9 guard that hails from Southlake, Texas. Flexer prepped at Southlake Carroll where she was a four-year letter winner for coach Robyn McCoart. A two-time captain, Flexer has been her team's starting point guard each of her three seasons so far. She has led the team in steals and ranked third in the region this past year in assists per game, while averaging fewer than one turnover a game as a junior.

Flexer is the daughter of David and Karen Flexer and plans to major in healthcare administration at Southern.

"Brittney is a versatile guard that can play either guard position," Ressel said. "She comes from a great family. Brittney epitomizes what it means to be a great teammate. She is very unselfish and wants her teammates to be successful. We are really excited about Brittney's future here at MSSU and happy she is joining the Lion Family."

Lacy Stokes

Lacy Stokes is a 5-4 point guard that hails from nearby Mount Vernon where she was a four-year starter on the hardwood for coach Grant Berendt and the Mountaineers. Stokes averaged 22.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and had 45 steals as a junior, helping Mount Vernon to a 23-7 record. She was the Big 8 Conference East Division Player of the Year and was an All-State selection.

So far in her career, Stokes has scored 1,307 points and has added 434 steals, 308 assists and 423 rebounds. She has the school record for 16 steals in one game. She was the conference Freshman of the Year on the volleyball court, while helping the basketball team to three-straight District Titles. A three-time All-Area pick for basketball, Stokes also was All-State in volleyball where she was a four-year starter at setter.

The daughter of Caleb and Jessica Stokes, Lacy plans to major in accounting at Southern.

"We are extremely excited to have Lacy join the Lion Family," Ressel said. "She can impact the game in a variety of ways, from the three, getting to the rim, finding the open teammate and she creates problems on the defensive end. Lacy comes from a great family and high school basketball program. She not only excels on the floor but in the classroom, as well."

Maleigha Landers

Maleigha Landers is a 5-9 guard that hails from Crowley, Texas where she prepped at All Saints Episcopal School. A four-year letter winner for coach Tracey Stellato and the Saints, Landers averaged 11.7 points, 3.6 steals and 4.1 rebounds per game. She was the Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, while being named a first-team All-District selection as both a sophomore and junior. 

Landers was an honorable mention All-State selection as a sophomore, while picking up second-team All-State honors as a junior. She helped her team to a District Championship as a junior and a total of 56 wins over the past two seasons.

Landers is the daughter of Sylvia and Kevin Landers and plans to major in physical therapy/occupational therapy at Southern.

"We are very excited to have Maleigha join the Lion Family," Ressel said. "She is a versatile player that can play the 1-4. Maleigha can score at all three levels and can guard multiple positions. She comes from a great family."

MSSU softball signs four recruits

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern softball coach Hallie Blackney has announced the signing of four recruits to start this year's signing period.

"Our program is thrilled to welcome these hard working, determined, and competitive student-athletes to our Pride," Blackney said. "This class brings in more pitching, power, and athleticism, and we look forward to what they will help our program accomplish on and off the field in the future."

Listed below are the four-incoming freshman bios.

Courtney Williams
Coronado, Calif.

Williams has been a three-year letter winner for the Coronado High School Islanders and coach Tom Dull. As a freshman she posted a .484 batting average with 31 hits and scoring 17 runs on the season while picking up All-District accolades. In her sophomore year posted a .474 batting average with 36 hits and scoring 28 runs.

Named in the Top 25 in the San Diego area her junior year after finishing in the top 13 in PGF and was on the team that won the Park City World Series 16u. Williams was also involved on the hardwood as a three-year letter winner for coach Goodwin as the team made the CIF Playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Originally from Oklahoma, Courtney is the daughter of Patrick and Teresa Williams and plans on majoring in education during her time at Southern.

Abigail DeSanto
North Richland Hills, Texas

DeSanto steps onto the Missouri Southern Campus after playing shortstop for her four years at Richland High School Royals.

A four-year letter winner on the diamond DeSanto garnered second team All-District distinctions as a freshman before being named first-team All-District for her sophomore season. Named onto the Academic All-District for both seasons as well. Named the Offensive MVP her sophomore season by the team. And is a member of the National Honor Society.

Abigail is the daughter of Tina and Steve DeSanto and plans to major in marketing during her time at Southern.

Jennelle Lundien
Miami, Okla.

Lundien steps onto the Missouri Southern campus after completing a distinguished career for the Wyandotte High School Bears.

As a four-year letter winner on the diamond she played as a shortstop racking up newcomer of the year as a freshman. A first-team All-Conference selection for her sophomore and senior seasons, while also being a three-time first-team All-District selection. Named Offensive Player of the Year and All-Region as a middle infielder her senior year. The Bears would win their district during Lundien's junior and senior seasons while winning their Regional during her senior season.

Lundien also competed in Powerlifting, and as a member of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams during her time at Wyandotte.

Jennelle is the daughter of Tennille and Stephen Lundien and the niece of Southern Hall of Famer Shally Lundien. She plans to major in secondary education during her time at Southern.

Avery Tallman
Owasso, Okla.

Tallman will step onto the Missouri Southern campus after pitching the Owasso High School Rams to a State runners-up finish.

A four-year letter winner for the Rams as a pitcher Tallman was named District Pitcher of the Year twice and was a first-team All-District pitcher this past season while racked up All-Region and All-State honors as a pitcher this past season as well.

Part of the Rams teams that were District and Regional champions (Freshmen-Junior) finishing as State runners-up her junior and senior seasons.

Avery is the daughter of Jennifer and Aaron Tallman and plans to major in forensics psychology during her time at Southern.

Missouri Southern Coaches Show to begin Monday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern Coaches Show will begin this Monday, November 16 as the show will open up with the first week of MIAA basketball.

This year, the show will come live from Jefferson's in Joplin on 430 S, Geneva Ave. Suite 100. Each week at 6 pm, host Justin Maskus will talk with head coaches Ronnie Ressel and Jeff Boschee, as well as players from both teams and other Southern head coaches throughout the winter and spring.

The show will air live on Fox Sports Joplin at 101.3 and 107.9 FM and 1340 and 1560 on the AM dial.

Come out and enjoy some great food, as well as listen along while the coaches detail their seasons and talk about the opponents for that week.