Complete Game Notes
Game #19: Lincoln (5-13, 1-11 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri (13-5, 8-4 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Maryville, Mo.
Live Stats: https://bearcatsports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #20: Lincoln at No. 25 Missouri Western (14-3, 8-3 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022
Time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Site: St. Joseph, Mo.
Live Stats: https://gogriffons.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  Two more road MIAA contests await the Lincoln women's basketball team this week, as the Blue Tigers close a four-game road trip with a pair of games inside the Show Me State. On Thursday (Jan. 27), LU heads to Maryville, Mo. to play Northwest Missouri at 5:30 p.m. CST. It's the first rematch of the season for the Blue Tigers, who dropped a 56-43 decision to NWMSU on Dec. 11. Lincoln's second rematch of the year will be played in St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday (Jan. 29), as the Blue Tigers play Missouri Western at 1:30 p.m. CST. The teams played in Jefferson City back on Dec. 9, with the Griffons prevailing, 88-52. Missouri Western enters the week ranked No. 25 in the country in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II poll.

FAST BREAKS
- Lincoln and Northwest Missouri will meet for the 52nd time on Thursday, with NWMSU leading the series, 40-11.

- The Blue Tigers' last win over Northwest Missouri was a 72-46 win over in Jason Gym on Jan. 28, 2021.

- Lincoln and Missouri Western will meet for the 48th time on Saturday. The Griffons lead the series, 42-5.

- Lincoln's last victory over Missouri Western came in 2017-18, when the Blue Tigers picked up a 73-62 home win over the Griffons.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Le'Yanna McGinnis leads Lincoln in scoring (9.8 ppg.) and four other Blue Tigers average seven points per night, including Niyah Jackson, who is scoring 7.4 points while dishing a team-high 2.6 assists per night. Imani Jones averages 7.8 points and leads Lincoln with 5.1 rebounds, while Hya Haywood (7.7 ppg., 2.0 apg.) and Kelsey Mitchell (7.6 ppg., 2.3 rpg.) are next on the scoring chart.

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 year that included a victory in the first round of the FCSAA playoffs. Mize previously was an assistant at Martin Methodist, helping the program reach the NAIA national tournament three times.

LAST TIME OUT
Rogers State 79, Lincoln 71
The Blue Tigers led by seven at halftime, but a big third quarter led to Rogers State earning the win, 79-71, in Claremore, Okla. last Thursday (Jan. 20). Imani Jones scored 19 points and Hya Haywood scored 16 to lead LU's offense, while Deija Jackson grabbed seven rebounds and Niyah Jackson had four assists.

Northeastern State 86, Lincoln 64
AJ Bradley scored 17 points and Imani Jones chipped in 11, but Lincoln fell to Northeastern State, 86-64, in Tahlequah, Okla. on Saturday (Jan. 22). The Blue Tigers forced 14 turnovers with Jones, Bradley and Mercy Gonzalez each recording two steals. Kelsey Mitchell added nine points, and Hya Haywood collected five rebounds.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS:  NWMSU's top scorers are Molly Hartnett (11.3 ppg.) and Mallory McConkey (10.7 ppg.), with Hartnett also leading the Bearcats with 2,4 assists per game. Jayna Green (5.5 rpg.) and Kelsey Fields (5.1 rpg.) are leading Northwest Missouri in rebounding, with Green also leading the team in blocks (1.4 bpg.).

NWMSU HEAD COACH AUSTIN MEYER:  A four-year letterwinner on the Northwest Missouri men's basketball team from 2002-06, Meyer is in his fourth season leading the Bearcat women and enters the week with a career record of 40-58. From 2008-18, Meyer served as an assistant coach on the NWMSU men's basketball staff and helped lead the Bearcats to the NCAA Division II national championship in 2017.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS:  Connie Clarke is averaging 12.6 points, 1.8 assists and team-highs in rebounding (8.7) and steals (2.1) while Brionna Budgetts is the top scorer at 12.9 points per night. Corbyn Cunningham is also averaging double digit points (11.7) as well as 6.9 boards per game. The Griffons are scoring 77.4 points and holding opponents to 58.9 points per contest.

MWSU HEAD COACH CANDI WHITAKER:  In her first year with Missouri Western, Whitaker led the Griffons to 21 wins and a berth in the MIAA tournament. Whitaker, now in her third season at MWSU, has the Griffons ranked No. 25 in the country. She spent nine years as a head coach at the Division I level, most recently at Texas Tech, where she made four-straight trips to the Big 12 tourney.

DEFENDERS:  Lincoln's strength has been its defense this year, as LU has blocked 60 shots, tallied 160 steals and forced 305 turnovers in 2021-22. The Blue Tigers are ranked 58th in the country and fifth in the MIAA in total blocks as well as 53rd in NCAA Division II in total steals.

LINE THEM UP:  Due to various circumstances, including injuries and illness, Lincoln is still in search of its starting five for 2021-22. The Blue Tigers have used 14 different starting five combos this year, with only three groups starting more than one game together. Mitchell has started the most games with 14 stints in the opening lineup. Imani Jones is next with 11 starts, followed by Kylie Bernskoetter with nine.

TAKE IT AWAY:  The Blue Tigers have stolen the ball 160 times in 2021-22, and currently are 53rd in Division II in total steals and fourth in the MIAA in steals and fifth in steals per game. Lincoln is also fourth in turnovers forced, as LU has created 16.9 takeaways per game. Eight Blue Tigers have at least 10 steals on the year.

UP THE BLOCK:  Ashtin Ingram is in just her second year as a Blue Tiger, but she's already added her name to the record books. Ingram has blocked 57 shots over the past two seasons, placing her seventh all-time on LU's career block list. Ingram needs just eight more blocks to surpass Claire Jenkins (64 career rejections) for sixth on the all-time list.

OFF THE GLASS:  Lincoln once again has excelled on the offensive glass, as the Blue Tigers have secured 221 boards to rate third in the MIAA with an average of 12.3 offensive boards per game. The Blue Tigers led the MIAA in offensive rebounding last year with 12.6 offensive boards per contest. Imani Jones has collected 42 offensive rebounds on the year, the fifth-most by any MIAA player, while Le'Yanna McGinnis is second for LU with 22.

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 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 at home on Thursday (Feb. 3) to host Missouri Southern at 5:30 p.m. CST.