GAME PREVIEW
#6 Missouri Western (18-2, 12-2 MIAA) vs. Missouri Southern (14-6, 8-6 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 30 – 1 p.m.
Leggett & Platt Athletic Center – Joplin, Missouri
 
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MWSU Season Stats | MIAA Standings | WBCA/USA Today Poll

ST. JOSEPH – The Griffons have dropped two straight for the first time since January 8^th & 10^th of the 2014-15 season. Missouri Western will look to get back on the winning track against Missouri Southern on Saturday.

The Series
Missouri Western holds a 50-32 advantage all-time. The teams split two games last season with the home team winning each game. The Griffons snapped an eight-game losing streak to Missouri Southern with a 61-56 win in St. Joseph on Jan. 24, 2015. Both teams have enjoyed a major home-court advantage in the series. Missouri Western has won all but eight games in the series played in St. Joseph. Southern is 23-17, including the last seven, in Joplin.

The Coaches
Rob Edmisson is now 59-42 at MWSU in his fourth year and has an overall coaching record of 448-150 in his career. Prior to Missouri Western, Edmisson spent seven seasons at Oklahoma City and won a national championship in 2011-12.
Ronda Hubbard is in her 15^th year on the staff at Missouri Southern and her third season as a head coach. She holds a 53-21 overall record as head coach.

Missouri Western

• The Griffons have an 18-2 overall record and 12-2 conference record
• Missouri Western is currently ranked sixth in the latest polls
• MWSU has clinched a spot in the MIAA tournament and currently sit first in the MIAA standings
• The Griffons have a 7-1 record on the road this season
• Missouri  Western averages 84.7 points per game (3^rd in the NCAA)
• MWSU shoots 49.6 percent from the field (2^nd in the NCAA) and shot 38.6 percent from three-point land (10^th in the NCAA)
• Missouri Western has made 345 free throws as a team this season (4^th in the NCAA)
• Missouri Western averages 15.2 assist per game (2^nd in the MIAA)
• The Griffons average 11.1 steals per game (2^nd in the MIAA)
• LaQuinta Jefferson is now averaging 22.9 points per game (2^nd in the NCAA)
• Jefferson has converted on 57 percent of her field goals (1^st in the MIAA)
• Guard Sarafina Handy is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game (9^th in the MIAA)
• Junior Chelsea Dewey has an assist turnover ratio of 2.31 (2^nd in the MIAA)
• Miliakere Koyamainavure averages 1.83 steals per game (6^th in the MIAA)
• Mhykeah Baez averages 1.1 blocks per game (5^th in the MIAA)

Missouri Southern

• Missouri Southern has a 14-6 overall record and an 8-6 conference record
• MSSU currently sits tied for seventh place in the MIAA standings
• The Lions have an 8-2 record at home this year
• Missouri  Southern has won three straight games including wins over Lincoln, Lindenwood, and Northwest Missouri
• Offensively, the Lions average 63.8 points per game and have a scoring margin of +5.5
• MSSU shoots 40 percent from the field and have a free throw percentage of 73 percent
• Missouri Southern has made 300 free throws this year (3^rd in the MIAA)
• Forward Sharese Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game
• Jones also leads the team with 7.1 rebounds per game
• Kenya Wilson-Brown averages 4.2 assist per game (5^th in the MIAA)
• Guard Deb Holcomb leads the team with 38 made three-point field goals and 1.9 made three-pointers per game