Complete Game Notes in .pdf format here

Storyline
The Lindenwood Lady Lions basketball team will be back at home this week for two conference games. The Lady Lions are coming off a 2-0 road trip and have won three conference games in a row for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

The team is coming off one of the biggest wins of the season, upsetting the Avila Eagles, who were in second place in the HAAC with a 4-1 record

The week starts off with the Lady Lions taking on the Central Methodist Eagles, then have a contest against MidAmerica Nazarene.

Lindenwood has started the season with an 8-6 record which is the team's best start since the 2008-09 season.

Last Time Out
The Lady Lions took to the road last week for a pair of road games. The trip started off in Lamoni, Iowa against the Graceland Yellowjackets.

The Lady Lions won the game 60-54 and defense was the name of the game for Lindenwood. The team held the Yellowjackets to just 30 percent shooting from the field, including 25 percent from behind the three-point arc.

On the offensive side of the floor the Lady Lions shot 50 percent from the field. The visitors also took 36 free throws in the game.

Morgan Harrington led the way for the Lady Lions scoring a game-high 22 points. Shantey Hibbler chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Lindenwood closed out the trip in Kansas City, Mo. against the Avila Eagles. The Lady Lions won a back and forth game 68-66. There was nine ties and nine lead changes.

The Lady Lions started the second half with a 22-9 run to surge to an eight point lead. Lindenwood would close out the contest down the stretch and hold on for the huge conference win. For the third straight game Harrington led the way for the Lady Lions scoring 24 points. 

Good Start
The Lady Lions have started the season with an 8-6 record, which is the best start since the 2008-09 season.

Leading the Way
Sophomore guard, Morgan Harrington has become the team's go to scorer. In the Lady Lions' last three games she has led the team in scoring, and has averaged 24.3 points. During the stretch the sophomore from Belleville, Ill. has almost half of her points from the charity stripe. Harrington is 33 for 42 from the line and 17 for 37 from the field. 

Harrington now is tops on the team in scoring (14.7), free throw percentage (.833), and three point percentage (.500).

Stellar Defense
Defense has been a strong teaching point for head coach Tony Francis and the teaching has spilled over to the court. Lindenwood's defense is only giving up 65.8 points a night and has held opponents to under 38 percent shooting. The defense has also compiled 120 steals.

Center of Attention
Center Kelly Albers has made her presence felt in the paint. The senior is leading the team with 8.9 rebounds per game, 11 blocks, and a .539 shooting percentage.  She is also second on the team with 11.9 points a game.

So far this season she has recorded a conference high five double-doubles.                 

Her best night of the season came against Harris-Stowe earlier in the season when she scored 22 points while grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds.
Shooting Lights Out

Over the Lady Lions current three-game winning streak the team has shot 46 percent from the field and has increased its season average to 42 percent. The 42 percent is the second highest in the HAAC.

Scoring Is Tops
As the HAAC portion of the schedule rolls on the Lady Lions continue to lead the conference in scoring with 69.9 points a game. When the team reaches its average of 69 points it is 6-0.

Halftime Lead Equals Win
Jumping out to a lead in the first half has paid off well for the Lady Lions this season. In all but one of the team's eight wins they have held a lead at halftime.  

Young Talent
The 2010-11 edition of the Lady Lions is a very young squad. The roster has a total of seven freshman. The seven freshmen have combined for 20 starts and are averaging a combined 31.5 points a game, which is 45 percent of the team's scoring. Caroline Bourlioux leads the group averaging 7.5 points a night.

Strong Second Half
To close out games the Lady Lions have outscored their opponents 538-492 in the second half. In the first halves of games the team has only outscored its opponent by 11.

Scouting The Eagles
The Central Methodist Eagles come into the matchup against the Lady Lions with a record of 3-13 overall and 1-5 in HAAC play. The Eagles started the season losing their first five games and have now dropped their last two conference games.

As a team the Eagles are allowing 60.5 points a night, which is the fourth most in the conference. They are scoring just 51.6 points a game, the least in the conference.

Central Methodist is led by a couple of local players. Sami Dunger, who played at Lafayette, is leading the team in scoring with 9.4 points a game. Rayln Nuss, from Fort Zumwalt West, is second on the team in scoring with 7.9 points.

The Eagles are coached by a husband and wife team. Andi and Michael Brooks are co-head coaches of the Eagles. Andi is in her fifth season at Central Methodist and Michael joins the program after coaching at Bradley last season.
    
Scouting The Pioneers
The MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers have an overall record of 5-10 and a conference mark of 3-2. Before the Pioneers take on the Lady Lions they will have a contest against the Evangel Crusders. The Pioneers started the season losing their first eight of their first nine games but have won their last three games.

MidAmerica has played very good defense this season only surrendering 59.9 points a game but offensively are only scoring 57.8.

Three underclassmen are leading the way for the Pioneers. Sophomore center Kelly Herold is pouring in 10.9 points a game to lead the team. A pair of freshman, Kassidy Ritchel and Rachel Boan, are pitching in with 9.1 and 9.0 point a game, respectively.

Karen Lange is in her first season at the helm of the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers. She comes to the Pioneers after spending the last seven seasons as the lead assistant coach at the University of Kansas.

Last Time
Last season the Lady Lions compiled a record of 2-2 against Central Methodist and MidAmerica. Lindenwood beat the Eagles at home, 62-42 but fell on the road 65-58. Christina Edwards scored 43 points combined in the two games. Against MidAmerica the Lady Lions lost at home 71-65 and were awarded a forfeit win for a game at MidAmerica.

Up Next
After the two game homestand the Lady Lions will be back on the road. The team will have a nonconference game against St. Louis College of Pharmacy, then travel to Liberty, Mo. to take on the William Jewell Cardinals