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.

MSSU men, 1-0, to play at Newman University

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The 21st ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team will head to Wichita tomorrow to take on Newman University. Tip off from Fugate Gymnasium is set for 3:30 pm.

Game Information

Teams: #21 Missouri Southern (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) at Newman (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Date: November 21, 2020
Tip-Off: 3:30 pm
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Site: Fugate Gymnasium
Series Record: Southern leads 2-1
Coaches: Jeff Boschee (125-61 overall/at MSSU - 7th year). R.J. Allen (43-42 overall/at Newman - 4th

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; @mssumensbball

The Series

The Lions lead the series between the two teams 2-1. The two teams played a home-and home series in 2007-08 with Newman taking the first game in an overtime win in Wichita, 86-84, while the Lions won in 2008 with an 87-64 victory inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

National Ranking

The Lions are ranked No. 21 in the NABC preseason poll this week. In the history of the NABC Poll, the Lions have been ranked 79 times, including 23-consecutive weeks at one time. The team has been No. 1 once (in the 2011 season).

Up Next

The Lions will head to Central Missouri for a 7:30 pm matchup next Tuesday, November 24 against the Mules.

MSSU women fall 75-74 to Central Oklahoma

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Edmond, Okla. - The Missouri Southern women's basketball team trailed by as many ten points in the fourth quarter, but the Lions fought back and nearly pulled out the road win, falling 75-74 late at Central Oklahoma.

The Lions (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) got on the board first as senior guard/forward Carley Turnbull hit a corner three on the Lions first possession. 

Freshman guard Kaitlin Hunnicut was a spark from the bench hitting two three pointers to spark a 6-1 run pushing the Lions ahead 11-7 early in the quarter. Southern finished the first quarter with a 21-18 lead over the Bronchos (1-0, 1-0 MIAA).

The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, but the Lions clamped down on defense limiting the Bronchos to 2-12 from the field in the quarter. Southern kept the lead into halftime 34-31, as the Lions shot 50 percent from behind the three-point line at break.

The third quarter saw the Lions trail by eight at the end of the quarter after the Bronchos went on a 9-2 in the early portion to head in a media timeout with the score tied at 38. UCO closed out the quarter with a 14-6 run.

In the fourth quarter, Southern stormed back as Hunnicutt hit back-to-back three before a Megan Jackson steal and fast break layup and-one had the Lions trailing 67-65 with 4:10 remaining.

Hunnicutt trimmed the lead back down a minute later after stealing the ball near half court and sinking a contested fast break layup to be in position to comeback. Sophomore center Madi Stokes had a put back layup and-one to push Southern ahead 71-70 with 2:05 remaining on the next possession.

The Bronchos made a free throw with 23 seconds remaining to push the lead to 73-71, before Turnbull drilled home layup and free throw to put Southern in front 74-73 with 18 seconds to go. However, with eight seconds remaining on the clock, the Bronchos knocked down two free throws to clinch the win as a last second three pointer from the Lions no good.

Carley Turnbull made a debut to remember for the Lions, leading the team with 15 points, nabbing two steals in the process as well. Hunnicutt lead all bench scorers with 14 points connecting on a game-high four three-pointers. Jackson posted a career high in scoring with 11 points, going 4-for-4 from the field while dishing out two assists in her first start as a Lion. Stokes led the Lions with 11 rebounds while adding six points.

The Lions head north to take on Newman this Saturday with a tip-off scheduled for 1:30 pm from Fugate Gymnasium.