WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Lions at Pitt State
WHEN: Dec. 9 | 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Joplin, Mo. (Leggett and Platt Athletic Center)
LIVE STATS: http://sidearmstats.com/mssu/wbball/
LIVE VIDEO/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 (12.9, fourth), defensive rebounds per game (9.0, fourth) and double-doubles (7, second). 
- 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's defense is one of the best in the NCAA,  The Lions rank seventh in NCAA DII in scoring defense with 52.1 points allowed per game, 13th in field goal percentage defense at 32.9% and 11th in three-point field goal percentage defense at 22.5%.
- Lindsey Medlen is distributing the ball well for the Lions this season. She is 42nd  in the NCAA with 40 assists and 38th in assists per game at 5.0. Medlen is on pace for 150+ assists this season, a feat that has not been acheived in the NCAA era for Lindenwood. 
- The Lions have been crashing the boards this season. Lindenwood leads NCAA DII in rebounding margin at 16.1. The next closest program is Lee with a 14.3 rebounding margin. The Lions are 16th in total rebounds per game (45.75).
- Lindenwood is eighth in NCAA DII with 84.6 points per game. They are on pace to score 2,368 points this season, which would be second all-time at Lindenwood.
- Last week, the Lions defeated Central Christian College of the Bible 113-30, setting program records for points scored in a game and margin of victory. Additionally, Lindenwood had 32 team assists, the second-highest single-game total in program history. 
- 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 2016-17 Lions with 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. 
- 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 96-109. 

Missouri Southern Notes:
- Missouri Southern enters the game with a 2-7 overall record and a 1-2 ledger in conference games.
- The Lions are 41st in the NCAA in free throws made at 136 and 58th in free throws attempted at 188. They also shoot the three well, ranking 51st in three pointers attempted (198) and 61st in free throws made (61).
- They are led by Chelsey Henry who is sixth in the MIAA with 15.4 points per game. Jenson Maydew is the top rebounder with 9.0 boards per game (sixth in MIAA)

Series Notes
- Last season, Lindenwood and Missouri Southern met twice with Lindenwood winning both contests: 86-80 on Dec. 10 at Hyland Arena and 74-72 on Jan. 12 in Joplin, Mo. 
- All-time, Missouri Southern holds the series lead at six games to two. 
- Several Lindenwood Lions have experienced success against Missouri Southern in their careers. In the two games last season, Gabby Walker scored a combined 28 points. Kallie Bildner did not play in the January contest, but dropped 24 points against the Lions in Hyland Arena last season. Lindsay Medlen also averages double-figures against MSSU at 11.0 ppg. 
- In three career games against MSSU, Kylie Ferguson has a .357 shooting percentage from three, the best average of any shooter against the Lions in LWU history.