WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Lindenwood vs Illinois-Springfield
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 18 | 1 p.m.
WHERE: Springfield, Ill. (TRAC)
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO

OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood women's basketball looks to build upon its opening weekend success at Illinois-Springfield. The Lions are 3-0 after defeating Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Monticello in the MIAA/GAC Challenge at Hyland Arena last weekend. Lindenwood most recently defeated Fontbonne at home 99-33.

Lindenwood Notes:
- Kallie Bildner is off to a hot start to the 2017-18 season.The reigning MIAA Athlete of the Week is averaging 22.0 points and 14.7 rebounds per game. Bildner also has six steals and three blocks.
- Against SAU, Bildner was 16-16 from the free throw line, the best such performance by a Lion in the NCAA era. She is the second Lion to ever record the feat (Jamie Bonney on 1/29/2000). The LWU record for free throws made is 19 by Jamie Bonney on March. 10, 2000.
- Bildner is third in the NCAA with 28 made free throws. Her 96.6 FT% is tops among players with at least 20 attempts this season.
- Lindenwood's defense is one of the best in the NCAA after opening weekend.  The Lions rank sixth in DII in scoring defense at 42.3 points per game. Lindenwood is third in blocked shots with 21 and 12th in steals with 37.
- Lindenwood and Illinois-Springfield are two of the most prolific shot-blocking teams in the NCAA. The Lions are fourth in NCAA DII with 7.0 blocks per game. The Prairie Stars lead DII with 9.3 blocks per game. 
- The Lions have been crashing the boards so far this season. They have out-rebounded opponents 51-30 on average. Kallie Bildner averages 14.7 boards per game this season (fifth in NCAA) and junior transfer Lexie Moe is gathering 7.3 boards per game.
- Lindenwood is shooting the ball well in the early stretch of the season. So far, the Lions are 45.5% from the field, 34.4% from three and 82.6% from the line. At this pace, the 2017-18 Lions would finish fourth in single-season FG%, tied for fourth in 3FG% and first in single-season FT%. 
- The Lions just wrapped up a 99-33 win over Fontbonne. It was the sixth-highest point total in Lindenwood women's basketball history. Sophomore forward Gabby Walker led the Lions with 24 points, a career high for her. 
- Lindenwood was selected seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Lions return four starters from last year's team that advanced to the MIAA semifinals, battling then-No. 25 Central Oklahoma to an 84-82 nail-biter. 
- Lindenwood is bringing back 76% of last year's scoring. Leading the returners is MIAA Freshman of the Year Kallie Bildner. Bildner led the Lions with 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. 
- The Lions welcome three freshmen and a junior transfer to the roster this season.
Freshman guard Jade Giron (Houston, Texas), freshman forward Kenzie Guese (St. James, Mo.) and freshman guard Devin Fuhring (St. James, Mo.) comprise the 2017-18 freshman class. Junior transfer and NAIA All-American Lexie Moe (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Central Methodist) rounds out the Lindenwood newcomers. 
- Head coach Tony Francis enters his eighth season at Lindenwood as the program's only coach in the NCAA era. He has a career record of 92-109. 

UIS Notes:
- Illinois-Springfield is 3-0, most recently defeating SLIAC opponent Macmurray College 117-40.
-The Prairie Stars were picked to finish third in the GLVC Central Division.
- UIS returns it's top scorer from last season in destiny Ramsey, who averaged 12.1 points per game a year ago. Senior Shelbi Patterson averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds last season 
- Illinois-Springfield is led by Mark Kost, who is in his third season at the helm of the Prairie Stars.

Series Notes
- The Lions and UIS have met once previously, with the Lions winning 61-59 on Nov. 22, 2011.