Complete Game Notes | Game Day Policies
Game #4: Pittsburg State (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) at Lincoln (0-3, 0-3 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

Game #5: Central Missouri (4-0, 4-0 MIAA) at Lincoln
Date: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

THE TIP OFF:  The final two homes of 2020 await the Blue Tigers this week, as the Lincoln women's basketball team plays a pair of MIAA contests in Jason Gym. Up first is Pittsburg State, who LU will play on Thursday (Dec. 10) at 5:30 p.m. CST. The Blue Tigers will then play host to Central Missouri on Saturday (Dec. 12), with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST. Lincoln is seeking its first win of the season after dropping a pair of road games last week. A second half rally helped Missouri Western hand the Blue Tigers a 62-55 loss last Thursday (Dec. 3). On Saturday (Dec. 10), the Blue Tigers fell to Northwest Missouri, 85-55.

FAST BREAKS
- Thursday marks the 37th meeting between Lincoln and Pittsburg State. The Gorillas lead the series, 35-1.

- LU's victory over Pittsburg State came in the 2012 MIAA tournament, as the Blue Tigers handed PSU, then ranked No. 12 in the country, 83-77.

- LU and UCM will meet for the 62nd time on Saturday. The Jennies lead the series, 58-3.

- Lincoln's last two wins vs. UCM both came in Warrensburg, as LU won, 82-76, in 2015-16, and 57-53 in 2011-12.

- LU will play three games this week, as Lincoln took on Missouri State in an exhibition on Monday.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln has a pair of scoring threats in Niyah Jackson (14.0 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) and Deija Jackson (10.7 ppg.) while Vivian Chigbu leads LU with 6.0 boards per game. Both AJ Bradley and Aliyah Bello have six steals, and Niyah Jackson has four takeaways to go with six assists. Ashtin Ingram has three blocks on the year.

HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her first year as the head coach at Lincoln after a successful two-year run at Central Florida College. In her first season with the Patriots, Mize led CFC to a four-win improvement and a slot in the Mid-Florida Conference Playoffs. In 2019-20, Mize led CFC to a 19-win season, including a victory in the first round of the playoffs. A graduate of Indiana, Mize previously served as an assistant coach at Martin Methodist, helping the program reach the NAIA national tournament three times.

LAST TIME OUT
Missouri Western 62, Lincoln 55
Lincoln held a 31-26 lead at halftime, but Missouri Western rallied in the second half, scoring 21 in the third quarter before winning, 62-55, last Thursday (Dec. 3). Deija Jackson scored 16 points, Niyah Jackson tallied 12 points and seven rebounds, and Joseline Ramos and Vivian Chigbu each added six points. AJ Bradley provided six boards and three steals.

Northwest Missouri 85, Lincoln 55
Northwest Missouri shot .579 from long range and forced Lincoln into 14 turnovers as the Bearcats beat the Blue Tigers, 85-55, on Saturday (Dec. 5). Vivian Chigbu and Niyah Jackson each scored 15, with Chigbu grabbing nine rebounds, while AJ Bradley scored 10 points.

SCOUTING THE GORILLAS:  Kaylee DaMitz (15.8 ppg.) and Tristan Gegg (15.2 ppg.) each are averaging 3.4 rebounds while Maya Williams leads the team on the glass with 6.2 per night. Williams also averages 10.2 points, and Julia Johnson tallies 5.0 points and rebounds per game.

PSU HEAD COACH AMANDA DAVIED:  After serving as an assistant coach with the Gorillas for 14 seasons, Davied was promoted to head coach beginning with the 2018-19 season. In three years, she has led PSU to 40 victories. As an assistant, Davied helped Pittsburg State go 283-160 with five trips to the NCAA Division II tournament and the 2017 MIAA regular season championship.

SCOUTING THE JENNIES:  After winning the MIAA regular season and tournament titles in 2019-20, Central Missouri is off to a 4-0 start and allowing just 52.5 points per game. Four UCM players average at least 10 points, led by Nija Collier's 17.3 average. Collier is also averaging 7.3 rebounds while Brooke Littrell (11.0 ppg.), leads the team with 8.8 boards per night. Graycen Holden averages 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while Olivia Nelson (10.0 ppg.) has 10 steals.

UCM HEAD COACH DAVE SLIFER:  With more wins than any other coach in the history of the UCM women's basketball program, Slifer has 337 victories with the Jennies and over 700 wins in his career. Slifer, who was selected as the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2013, has led the Jennies to ten 20-win seasons and the 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship.

TALLYING TAKEAWAYS:  Boosted by a 10-steal performance against Missouri Southern, Lincoln is ranked 19th in NCAA Division II in turnovers created with 26. LU is second in the MIAA, and 19th nationally, with 8.7 steals per game, and LU's average of 18.3 turnovers forced per night is the 17th-best in DII.

TABULATING TURNOVERS:  Four Blue Tigers rank among the top-22 in the MIAA in steals per game, led by Aliayh Bello and AJ Bradley's 2.0 average. Bello and Bradley, who are seventh in the MIAA, additionally rank 36th in Division II in steals. Haylie Holloway (1.7 spg.) is 13th in the league while Niyah Jackson (1.3) is 22nd.

EXHIBITION SEASON:  Lincoln played its sole exhibition game of the season on Monday night (Dec. 7), as LU faced NCAA Division I opponent Missouri State. The top scorer for Lincoln was Joseline Ramos with nine points while both Niyah Jackson and Ashtin Ingram scored eight. LU fell to the Bears, 100-38.

OFF THE GLASS:  Vivian Chigbu averaged 7.8 rebounds in 2019-20 to finish fifth in the MIAA. This season, she is averaging 6.0 rebounds following a nine-board night vs. Northwest Missouri. Chigbu has been especially strong on the offensive glass, averaging 3.0, the 23rd-best in DII.

STAYING IN THE GAME:  Lincoln has done a good job of staying out of foul trouble, as LU has been whistled for just 53 transgressions in 2020-21. That total is not only the fifth-fewest in the MIAA, but also the 37th-best mark in NCAA Division II.

GOING DIGITAL:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing to sell all tickets to LU basketball games online in 2020-21. There will be no on-site ticket sales, as fans will either need to pull up their ticket on their phone or print them off in advance to be scanned at the gate. Due to MIAA regulations, tickets to Blue Tiger games will be sold on a limited basis, and members of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club will be given priority. For more information, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.

JOIN THE CLUB:  Members who joined the Blue Tiger Athletics Club at the Coaches level of above will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets in 2020-21. Members at the Blue Tiger level will have the next chance. To join the BTAC, or to learn more about the club, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The MIAA Network. All 11 Lincoln home games will be broadcast through a new multi-camera system and can be seen at www.TheMIAANetwork.com/LUBlueTigers.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

NEXT UP:  The Blue Tigers are back on the road on Thursday (Dec. 17), playing Emporia State in Emporia, Kan. at 5:30 p.m. CST.