WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Lions vs. Central Missouri
WHEN: March 1 | 6 p.m.
WHERE: Kansas City, Mo. (Municipal Auditorium)
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: http://themiaa.com/sports/2017/8/2/WBB_0802175930.aspx?id=401&
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 (12.0, fourth), defensive rebounds per game (9, sixth) and fourth in double-doubles (17). She is 36th in points per game (18.4).
- Bildner is one of 30 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).
- With 325 rebounds this season Kallie Bildner is second on Lindenwood's single season rebounding chart. She needs 28 to match the school record set by Vanessa Zailo in 2014-15.
- Bildner has scored 498 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 for Lindenwood in the NCAA era. 
- The Lions are 15th in the NCAA in field goal percentage. Lindenwood shoots 45.9% 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 96 assists in the 2017-18 season. 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 21.2 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 18.4 and 13.3 points per game, respectively. Bildner leads the MIAA in rebounding (12.0 per game) while Walker is third in the conference in field goal percentage (.556).
- 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 17.4 points per game in MIAA action. Bildner is the only player in the conference to average double-digit rebounds (11.7) in conference games. Walker posts 12.3 points per game on .520 shooting. Medlen averages 10.9 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 1.2 points per game. 
- The Lions have been crashing the boards in 2017-18.  Lindenwood is 14th in NCAA DII in rebounding margin at 8.3.
- 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 77.3 points per game, the top mark in the MIAA this season. They currently have 2,242 points this season, the third-highest single-season total in Lindenwood history. Additionally, the Lions are on pace to break the program season scoring average record of 73.2 set in the 2013-14 season.
- Gabby Walker and Kallie Bildner are two of the top shooters in the MIAA. Bildner is second in the conference with a .568 shooting percentage, 21st in the NCAA. Walker is third in the MIAA at .556, 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 is in his eighth season at Lindenwood and is the program's only coach in the NCAA era. He has a career record of 106-121.

Postseason Picture:
- Lindenwood finished the regular season tied with Missouri Southern with an 8-11 record in MIAA action. However, MSSU owns the tiebreaker and earned the eighth seed. Lindenwood is the ninth seed in the tournament. 
-The victor of the Lions and Jennies contest plays the winner of the Central Oklahoma/Missouri Western game. That semifinal matchup will take place on Saturday, March 3 at 2:15 p.m.

Central Missouri Notes:
- The Jennies finished the regular season with a 24-2 overall record and an 18-1 mark in MIAA action.
- UCM has the fewest turnovers in the NCAA this season. The Jennies average 11.9 turnovers per game. Conversely, the Lions lead the MIAA with 17.2 turnovers forced per game. 
- The Jennies are 13th in the NCAA in personal fouls per game at 14.5.
- UCM is led by MIAA Player of the Year Paige Redmond and Defensive Player of the Year Kayonna Lee. Redmond leads the Jennies with 16.4 ponits per game and 103 assists. Lee averages 8.6 points per game and has 40 blocks this season.

Series Notes:
- The Lions and Jennies have met twice this season with UCM winning both contests. 
- Lindenwood is 3-10 all-time against Central Missouri.