Complete Game Notes
Game #1: Southern Arkansas (4-10 in '20-'21) at Lincoln (2-20 in '20-'21)
Date: Friday, Nov. 12, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

Game #2: Arkansas-Monticello (1-7 in '20-'21) at Lincoln
Date: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/

THE TIP OFF:  The Lincoln women's basketball team tips off its 2021-22 campaign this weekend with its first non-conference games since 2019 as the Blue Tigers host the Central Region Challenge on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 12-13). Lincoln hosts Southern Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. CST on Friday in its first non-MIAA game since Dec. 19, 2019, when the Blue Tigers beat Eureka, 84-75, in Jason Gym. On Saturday, the Blue Tigers play Arkansas-Monticello at 5:30 p.m. CST. Both games will cap double headers, as Upper Iowa plays Arkansas-Monticello on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CST before facing Southern Arkansas on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CST.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln and Southern Arkansas have met three times before, with the Blue Tigers leading the series, 2-1. LU won the first two meetings, but SAU won, 70-57, when the teams last played each other in 2019.

- Arkansas-Monticello and Lincoln will meet for the fifth time on Saturday, with UAM leading the series, 3-1. The teams last played in 2019, with UAM winning, 68-37.

- These games will be the first non-conference contests for Lincoln since ending 2019 with a home win against Eureka. In 2020-21, due to COVID-19 protocols, Lincoln only played other MIAA programs.

- This will be the fourth time in the past five years that LU will play in the Central Region Challenge to open a season. It's the first time that LU will serve as the host.

- 2021-22 marks the second-straight season that Lincoln will tip off a season at home.

- LU is seeking its first season-opening win since 2018-19 and first season-opening win at home since 2010-11.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln has six returners from its 2020-21 campaign, led by All-MIAA honorable mention performer Niyah Jackson, who averaged 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists. AJ Bradley returns after leading the MIAA and finishing among the top-five in NCAA Division II in made free throws (124). Also back for the Blue Tigers are Deija Jackson, who averaged 10.7 points before having her season cut short due to injury, Aliyah Bello (7.6 points per game) and Haylie Holloway (4.4 ppg.).

HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her second year as the head coach at Lincoln after a successful two-year run at Central Florida College. In 2019-20, Mize led CFC to a 19-win season that included a victory in the first round of the FCSAA playoffs. A graduate of Indiana, Mize previously was an assistant at Martin Methodist, where she helped the program reach the NAIA national tournament three times.

SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS:  All four of the leading scorers for Southern Araknsas return in 2021-22, led by Diamond Morris, who scored 13.6 points per game last year. Kisi Young led SAU with 5.8 rebounds and averaged 13.1 points, and Ariana Guinn provided 11.3 points per contest. Jessica Jones, meanwhile, averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds.

SAU HEAD COACH ADAM COLLINS:  Now in his fourth season at Southern Arkansas, Collins has led the Muleriders to 24 victories. During his 14-year coaching career, Collins has twice been named conference Coach of the Year and has twice taken teams to the NCAA tournament.

SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS:  UAM will have a different look in 2021-22, as Arkansas-Monticello's top-four scorers from a year ago do not return this season. The top-returning scorer is Taylor Flores, who averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds. Also back are Aeryn Hawkins (4.0 ppg.) and Taylor East (3.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg.).

UAM HEAD COACH MARKELL COX:  In his second year as the head coach of the Blossoms, Cox posted a 1-7 record in a 2020-21 campaign that featured a number of canceled contests due to COVID-19 protocols. Cox came to Arkansas-Monticello from Cincinnati Christian, where he helped the program reach the league tournament for the first time in 10 years.

CENTRAL START:  This is the fourth time in the past five years that Lincoln will open a season at the Central Region Challenge, and LU has had some success in its previous trips to the classic. In 2018-19, Lincoln beat both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello to begin the year 2-0. In the last three Central Region Challenges, Lincoln is 3-3.

UNDE-NIYAH-BLE:  Niyah Jackson was one of the conference's best players in 2020-21, and the league recognized her performance by naming her to the All-MIAA honorable mention list. With 14.5 points per contest, Jackson finished 11th in the league in scoring. She was also eighth in the MIAA in assists (3.2) and 12th in steals (1.6).

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK:  Ashtin Ingram had 44 blocks in her first season as a Blue Tiger, the third-most in the MIAA and the 15th-most in NCAA Division II. Ingram averages 2.0 blocks per game, the second-best average in the MIAA.

BASKETS FOR BRADLEY:  AJ Bradley quickly emerged as a scoring threat in 2020-21, as she posted four 20-point games and 12 total double digit performances. Bradley, who averaged 12.1 points per contest, also tallied 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per night.

TO THE LINE:  One key factor to AJ Bradley's success was her ability to get to the free throw line, where she shot .717 on the season. Bradley attempted 172 free throws in 2020-21, the second-most of any player in NCAA DII. She made 124 of those tries, the third-most of any DII player.

NATIONAL NOTABLES:  The Blue Tigers finished well in the final team statistics in NCAA Division II last season. Most notably, Lincoln finished ninth in the country in free throws attempted (462) and 12th in free throws made (318). The Blue Tigers collected 837 rebounds, the 28th-most of any DII team. Lincoln led the MIAA, and finished 65th in DII, with 12.6 offensive boards per game. LU also was 43rd nationally with 176 steals.

TABULATING TAKEAWAYS:  The Blue Tigers had a knack for creating turnovers last season, as Lincoln ended the year second in the MIAA with 16.4 takeaways per night. LU averaged 8.0 steals per contest, the fifth-best mark in the conference. Individually, AJ Bradley led LU with 2.0 steals per contest, the fourth-best average in the MIAA, while her 43 steals ranked 44th nationally.

EXHIBITION SEASON:  LU played NCAA Division I team Missouri State in an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 5. While the Bears won, 100-44, Lincoln had several good individual performances. AJ Bradley had nine points to lead LU, and Hya Haywood and Niyah Jackson each scored eight. LU forced MSU into 15 turnovers.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2021-22. For more information, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/Tickets.

JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, 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 14 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:  Lincoln remains at home to take on Blackburn in Jason Gym on Tuesday (Nov. 16) in a 5:30 p.m. CST contest.