WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Lions vs. Missouri Western
WHEN: Feb. 24 | 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Charles, Mo. (Hyland Arena)
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/lindenwood/wbball/
LIVE VIDEO: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/lindenwoodlions/
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, fifth), defensive rebounds per game (9, sixth)and ninth in double-doubles (15). She is 33rd in points per game (18.5).
- Bildner is one of 28 players in NCAA DII to average double-digit rebounds this season. The last Lion to record a double-digit rebound average for an entire season was Vanessa Zailo in 2014-15 (13.0 rpg).
- Bildner has scored 463 points so far this season. She is the second Lion to score 400+ points in a season in the NCAA era. No player has ever scored 500 points in the NCAA era. 
- The Lions are 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage. Lindenwood shoots 46.3% from the field this season. The Lion record for field goal percentage is 46.8%, recorded in the 1992-93 season. 
- Lindsay Medlen has notched 85 assists for far in 2017-18. Since joining the NCAA, only one Lion has collected 100 assists in a single season (Jenny Rocha with 114 in 2014-15 and 2015-16). 
- The Lions have made great adjustments at halftime this season. The Lions average 21.7 points in the third quarter, Lindenwood's highest scoring quarter. 
-The Lions feature of pair of forwards in Kallie Bildner and Gabby Walker that score 18.5 and 13.0 points per game, respectively. Bildner leads the MIAA in rebounding (11.8 per game) while Walker is fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (.551).
- The sophomore trio of Kallie Bildner, Lindsay Medlen and Gabby Walker are thriving in MIAA games. Bildner (who has won three MIAA Athlete of the Week honors) leads the team with 17.1 points per game in MIAA action. Bildner is the only player in the conference to average double-digit rebounds (11.4) in conference games. Walker posts 11.9 points per game on .515 shooting. Medlen averages 11.3 points per game. 
- Point guard Lindsay Medlen has kicked into a new gear in MIAA games. In conference games, her scoring average has gone up 1.6 points per game. 
- The Lions have been crashing the boards in 2017-18.  Lindenwood is 15th in NCAA DII in rebounding margin at 8.2.
- 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 20th in NCAA DII with 77.9 points per game, the top mark in the MIAA this season. They are on pace to score 2,259 points this season, which would be third all-time at Lindenwood.
- Gabby Walker and Kallie Bildner are two of the top shooters in the MIAA. Bildner is second in the conference with a .575 shooting percentage, 19th in the NCAA. Walker is fourth in the MIAA at .551, 26th nationally. 
- 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.
- 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 104-121.

Postseason Picture:
- With one game remaining, the Lions have secured a spot in the 2017-18 MIAA tournament. Lindenwood is currently tied with Southwest Baptist for ninth in the MIAA.
- If the Lions win tonight, they finish the season 8-11 overall, tying Missouri Southern (and potentially SBU) for eighth in the MIAA.
- The Lions hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over 11th place Northeastern State.

Missouri Western Notes:
- The Griffons come to Hyland Arena with a 15-12 record and a 7-11 mark in MIAA games.
- Missouri Western is 45th in the NCAA with 14.2 turnovers per game. 
- Melia Richardson is the top player for Missouri Western. She averages 10.8 points per game. Keshara Scott is the top Griffon rebounder with 7.2 rebounds per game. She is 38th in the NCAA with three offensive rebounds per game. 

Series Notes:
- Ealier this season the Lions defeated the Missouri Western 63-55, The win was the 100th victory of head coach Tony Francis' career. 
- Lindenwood is 2-8 all time against Missouri Western,
- Gabby Walker has 43 points and 27 rebounds in three games against MWSU in her career. Of her 27 boards, 10 have been offensive rebounds.