Complete Game Notes in .pdf format here

Storyline
The Lindenwood Lady Lions basketball team will be back in action on Thursday night after almost a month off. The last contest the team played was a loss to Evangel on December 9.

Before the break, the Lady Lions dropped their last two HAAC games and will try and snap the skid with a home game against Missouri Valley. Following the home game, the team will go back out on the road with two more conference games against Graceland on Saturday afternoon and Avila on Monday.  

Last Time Out
The Lady Lions traveled to Springfield, Mo. before the break to take on the Evangel Crusaders. Lindenwood fell behind early and lost 80-54.

Evangel jumped out to an early 12-0 lead while Lindenwood struggled early, not scoring its first basket until almost five minutes into the game. The first half was dominated by Evangel. The home team shot 60 percent from behind the arc and headed into the intermission with a commanding 43-19 lead. Lindenwood's 19 points was the team's lowest scoring half of the season.

In the second half, the Lady Lions started with a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 15 but that was as close as the visitors would get. Following the Lady Lions run, Evangel answered with a 17-3 run to break the game open.

Lindenwood shot just 36 percent from the field, while Evangel shot 48 percent from the field and 63 percent from behind the arc. The Lady Lions turned the ball over a season-high 25 times.

Scoring Is Tops
As the HAAC portion of the schedule rolls on the Lady Lions continue to lead the conference in scoring with 70.6 points a game. When the team reaches its average of 70 points it is 5-0.

Dominating The Boards
The Lady Lions are outrebounding their opponents by an average of three rebounds a night, which is the second best margin in the conference.

The team is also first in the conference in offensive rebounds a game with 15.

The best rebounding effort came against Harris-Stowe earlier in the season. The Lady Lions outrebounded the Hornets 58-36.

Schnieders Coming On
Sophomore guard Sarah Schnieders is beginning to emerge as the Lady Lions top scorer. Over the last three games, Schnieders is averaging 16.7 points and has been the leading scorer in those games.  The St. Peters, Mo. native is shooting 42 percent from the field this season and is averaging 11.1 points a night. 

Center of Attention
Center Kelly Albers has made her presence felt in the paint. The senior is leading the team in scoring with 12.2 points and rebounds with 8.8. Her rebounding average is good for first in the conference and is ninth in scoring.

So far this season she has recorded a conference high four 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.

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 16 starts and are averaging a combined 29.9 points a game. Caroline Bourlioux leads the group averaging 7.4 points a night.

Forcing Turnovers
The Lady Lions have done a exceptional job forcing turnovers and not turning the ball over this season. Lindenwood is second in the conference with a +3.0 turnover margin. In eight out of 11 games, the team has had fewer turnovers than its opponents.

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 67 points a night and has held opponents to under 39 percent shooting. The defense has also compiled 105 steals.

Abby's Stellar Career
Abby Schultenhenrich continues to climb up the career leader board at Lindenwood. The senior is eighth all-time with 101 career three-pointers made. 

New Addition
Starting this week the Lady Lions will welcome back a familiar face into the lineup. Senior forward Christina Edwards returns to the roster after sitting out the first semester. Last season Edwards led the team in scoring with 15.4 points a game  and rebounds with 8.8.

Scouting The Vikings
The Missouri Valley Vikings come into the matchup with a record of 4-11 overall and 2-1 in HAAC play. Missouri Valley has lost its last eight out of 10 games.

Valley is scoring just over 57 points a game but surrendering over 68 on defense.

Leading the way for the Vikings is Shateah West, who is averaging 14.3 points a game and over seven rebounds. Jonica Booth and Sami Jackson also chip in with eight points a game each. 

Jolene Christensen has been the head coach at Missouri Valley since February 2008 after being promoted to the position after spending four years as the Vikings' top assistant coach.
    
Scouting Graceland
The Graceland Yellowjackets have an overall record of 6-6 and 1-3 mark in HAAC play. Graceland will take on MidAmerica Nazarene before taking on the Lady Lions.

Graceland is allowing 68.7 points a night on defense and scoring 69.5.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets is a pair of juniors who are both averaging in double figures. Josilyn Wilkes is scoring 16 points a night and Adria Jackson is pouring in 15.9.

Opie Butler enters his seventh season as head coach and has amassed the most victories in program history.

Scouting The Eagles
The Avila Eagles have started their season with a record of 8-5 and will take on Baker University before matching up with the Lady Lions. Avila has lost its last two games.

The Eagles defense is giving up an average of 64.5 points and the offense is scoring 64.9.
Avila is led by the top two scorers in the HAAC. Senior Alyson Young leads the conference with 21 points a game and is also leading the conference with a .570 shooting percentage. Second in the conference in scoring is junior Brittney Townsend, who is scoring nearly 17 points a game and is leading the HAAC with over four three pointers made per game.

Larry Williams is in his fifth year as the head coach of the Eagles and has compiled a record of  86-53.

Last Time
Last season the Lady Lions compiled a record of 1-5 against their next three opponents. Against Graceland Lindenwood was 1-1 with both games going into overtime.

Up Next
After taking on Avila the Lady Lions will return home for a pair of HAAC games. First off, the Central Methodist Eagles will visit the Hyland Arena followed by MidAmerica Nazarene.