Today's Contest
- After upsetting MIAA-leading and No. 8 ranked Central Missouri last week, the Lady Lions begin a three-game stretch against the three teams at the bottom of the conference standings with tonight's game against Northwest Missouri. The two teams will meet again in Maryville, Mo. Feb. 19. The Lady Lions have won two straight and are 7-2 at Hyland Arena this season.
- Northwest Missouri has lost five of its last six games, including a 67-62 loss to Central Missouri in Maryville Jan. 18. In their last game, the Bearcats were overwhelmed by Missouri Southern's two 6-foot-plus centers in an 80-74 loss. Guard Ariel Easton led the Bearcats with 24 points.
- Tonight's game features two of the top freshmen guards in the MIAA.
Kassidy Gengenbacher has started in 13 of 17 games, leads the Lady Lions with 14.4 points per game and has cracked the top 10 in conference scoring. Shelby Mustain (6-foot-2) has started in 12 of 17 games for the Bearcats and leads them with 23 blocked shots.
Lindenwood Notes
- The Lady Lions served notice to the MIAA that they are a program on the rise with last week's 65-64 road win against No. 8 ranked Central Missouri. In their first year as an official member of the MIAA, the Lady Lions have taken their lumps against its top teams, but are 5-5 in conference games and could return four of five starters next season.
- The Lady Lions have scored 47 points off of 40 turnovers in the last two games. Leading Central Missouri by a point in the game's waning seconds, junior Brielle Wattley tried to drive baseline through a Lady Lion double team and turned the ball over to end the game. The Lady Lions are plus-11 in turnovers this season.
- Although freshman
Bre Zanders has played just 15 minutes in her first two starts, the Lady Lions are 2-0. Senior
Caroline Bourlioux is back in the starting forward position against Northwest Missouri. Zanders has a hard time building game minutes because she routinely finds herself in foul trouble. Despite playing a fraction of the minutes Bourlioux has played (450-181), Zanders has the same amount of fouls (54). Zanders is a talented rebounder and has turned in excellent shooting numbers -- .414 from the field, .818 from the free-throw line.
- Like Zanders, freshman
Kassidy Gengenbacher is a big reason the future looks so bright for the Lady Lions. Gengenbacher is in the top 10 in the MIAA in scoring average (ninth, 14.4), steals (third, 1.9) and free-throw percentage (third, .813). Only Bourlioux (177) has taken more shots from the field than Gengenbacher (169).
- Junior
Morgan Johnson is running away with the lead in three-point shooting in the conference. After making 2 of 4 three-point baskets against Central Missouri, including one with fewer than four minutes to play, Johnson's three-point average increased to .441. She's the only player in the MIAA shooting better than .400 from that range. Lindenwood coach
Tony Francis has credited Johnson for being a steadying force in the locker room this season.
- Sophomore guard
Jenny Rocha collected her 100th career rebound with two against Central Missouri. She's started all 17 games, leads the Lady Lions with 32.3 minutes per game, and is tied for fourth in the MIAA in assists per game (3.9). Just 5-4, Rocha plays much bigger and has a slingshot for a passing arm.
- It's been feast or famine scoring-wise for junior
Julie Hlinak this season, but she's consistently been one of the Lady Lions top rebounders. Hlinak grabbed 10 defensive rebounds against Central Missouri, the second time this season she's gotten 10 boards.
Last Time Out
- The Lady Lions beat No. 8 ranked and MIAA-leading University of Central Missouri 65-64, snapping the Jennies' 21-game winning streak at the Multipurpose Building. It is the biggest win of the season by the suddenly surging Lady Lions (10-7 overall, 5-5 conference) who've won two straight.
- Freshman
Kassidy Gengenbacher scored 17 points for the second straight game and led the Lady Lions in scoring and five steals. Senior
Marissa Lehnig (14 points), senior
Caroline Bourlioux (12) and sophomore
Dru Haertling (10) also scored in double figures for the Lady Lions. Haertling sank a three-pointer to give the Lady Lions a 50-42 lead with 11:20 left. She had scored eight points in the previous five games.
- The Lady Lions held MIAA scoring leader Keuna Flax to two points at halftime, but Flax got hot in the second half and finished with a game-high 21 points.
Northwest Missouri State University Notes
- Like the Lady Lions, the Bearcats began the season with several new players. Junior guard Ariel Easton transferred from State Fair Community College where she was selected NJCAA second-team All-American. She leads the Bearcats with 24 steals and 33 three-point baskets.
- Junior Ashleigh Nelson has started 58 of 73 games with the Bearcats, and all 17 this season. From Omaha, Neb., Nelson is second on the Bearcats with 13.2 points per game and second with 37 assists. She had 16 points and a pair of assists and steals against Missouri Southern.
- Senior guard Monique Stevens' long road from Wodonga, Victoria Australia began in Lincoln, Neb. at Southeast Community College before ending in Maryville, Mo. at Northwest Missouri. Stevens has started 16 games this season and 40 over the past two seasons. She led the Bearcats with 138 assists last season and leads them with 47 helpers this year.
