Interview with Coach Francis

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 third in double-doubles (18). 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 335 rebounds this season Kallie Bildner is second on Lindenwood's single season rebounding chart. She needs 17 to match the school record set by Vanessa Zailo in 2014-15.
- Bildner has scored 515 points so far this season. She is the first player to ever score 500 points in a season during the NCAA era of Lindenwood women's basketball.
- The Lions are 14th 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 99 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 13.5 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 (.554).
- The sophomore trio of Kallie Bildner, Lindsay Medlen and Gabby Walker are thriving in MIAA games. Bildner (who won three MIAA Athlete of the Week honors) leads the team with 17.4 points per game in MIAA action. Bildner was 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 8.2.
- 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 77.2 points per game, the top mark in the MIAA this season. They currently have 2,317 points this season, the second-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 leads the conference with a .570 shooting percentage, 20th in the NCAA. Walker is third in the MIAA at .554, 27th 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 107-121.

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 Griffons will advance to the MIAA Championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Missouri Western Notes:
- The Griffons were the last team in to the MIAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 4-15 mark in conference games. 
- Missouri Western is 50th in the NCAA with 14.3 turnovers per game.
- The Griffons are led by the trio of Cera Ledbetter, Dossou Ndiaye and Melia Richardson, who all earned honorable mention All-MIAA accolades.
- Richardson is their leading scorer at 11.4 points per game. Ndiaye averages 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while leading the team with 27 blocks. Ledbetter posts 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest. 

Series Notes:
- Lindenwood and Missouri Western met twice previously tihs season with the Lions winning 63-55 at Missouri Western and 61-50 at Hyland Arena. 
- Lindenwood is 3-8 all-time against Missouri Western.
- In four contests against the Griffons, Gabby Walker has 62 points and 31 rebounds.