WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Lions at UMSL
WHEN: Dec. 31 | 1 p.m.
WHERE: St. Louis, Mo. 
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umsl/wbball/
LIVE VIDEO: http://www.glvcsn.com/umsl/
LIVE AUDIO: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lindenwoodlions/

Lindenwood Notes:
- Kallie Bildner is one of the top performing players in the NCAA this season. The sophomore forward is ranked in the top 10 nationally in rebounds per game (11.8, sixth), defensive rebounds per game (8, eighth) and double-doubles (8, sixth). 
- The Lions come out of the gates strong, averaging 21.8 points in the first quarter. Lindenwood averages a 10.2 point scoring margin in first quarters this season. Additionally, the Lions score 24.8 points in the third quarter coming out of halftime. The Lindenwood scoring margin in the third quarter is 9.8 points. 
- Lindsey Medlen is distributing the ball well for the Lions this season. She is 49th in the NCAA with 52 assists (Second in MIAA). As a team, the Lions are 14th in the NCAA with 210 assists. 
- The Lions have been crashing the boards in 2017-18.  Lindenwood leads NCAA DII in rebounding margin at 13.8. As a team, the Lions are 36th in rebounds per game (43.7).
- The Lions have scored 100 points in a game twice this season. Lindenwood defeated Central Christian College of the Bible 113-30 on Dec. 1, setting program records for points in a game and margin of victory. The Lions then scored 112 points against Robert Morris-Springfield on Dec. 19, the second-most points in a single game in Lion history. 
- Lindenwood is sixth in NCAA DII with 85.5 points per game. They are on pace to score 2,394 points this season, which would be second all-time at Lindenwood.
- In addition to electric offense, the Lions have displayed stout defense. Lindenwood is 22nd in the NCAA in scoring defense at 56.7 points per game. The Lions are 17th in steals (137) and 21st in blocks (53). Opponents have been held to 24.9% shooting from three against the Lions this season.
- The Lions are seventh in the NCAA in field goal percentage. Lindenwood shoots 49.1% from the field this season. The Lion record for field goal percentage is .468, recorded in the 1992-93 season. 
- Against Southern Arkansas on Nov. 10, 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.
- 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. 
- 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 98-112. 

UMSL Notes:
- The local foe Tritons enter the contest with a 6-3 record. UMSL is on a three-game win streak and are 3-1 at home this season.
- UMSL and Lindenwood are similar teams. Similar to the Lions, the Tritons are nationally-ranked in rebounding margin (8.7, 22nd) and scoring defense (56.0, 17th). 
- UMSL is led by a trio of scorers who average 10+ points per game. Shawnta Johnson leads the way with 12.8 points per game. Arielle Jackson scores 12.3 ppg. Sammie Sproul rounds out the group with 10.6 ppg. 
- Alex LaPorta is the team's top rebounder at 10.0 rebounds per game. She is 13th in the NCAA with six double-doubles. 
- Sammie Sproul is one of the top sharpshooters in the NCAA, posting a 49.0 3FG%, seventh in the NCAA. 

Series Notes:
- Last season, Lindenwood and UMSL met at Hyland Arena on New Year's Eve, with the Lions falling 61-54.
- The Lions are 2-4 all-time against UMSL.