Complete Game Notes
Game #10: Stephens (8-1) at Lincoln (1-8)
Date: Monday, Dec. 19, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jason Gym in Jefferson City, Mo.
Tickets: https://www.lubluetigers.com/tickets
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
 
THE TIP OFF:  The Lincoln women's basketball team plays for the final time before the holiday break next week, hosting Stephens on Monday (Dec. 19) at 5:30 p.m. CST. It's also the final non-conference contest of 2022-23 for Lincoln, which will play for its first home victory of the season after a narrow 62-58 loss to William Jewell on Dec. 7, the last time LU played in Jason Gym. Stephens is currently 8-1 on the season, including 2-0 away, and has games against William Woods and Lyon on its slate before Monday's contest. This is a regular season game for the Blue Tigers, while Stephens is treating Monday's contest as an exhibition.
 
FAST BREAKS
- On Monday, Lincoln and Stephens will meet for the fifth time in series history. The Blue Tigers have a 3-1 advantage in the series.
 
- The Blue Tigers are 3-0 vs. Stephens inside Jason Gym.
 
- Lincoln and Stephens have not played each other since Nov. 13, 2018, when the Blue Tigers defeated the Stars, 79-34.
 
- This will be the sixth non-conference game of 2022-23 for the Blue Tigers, as well as the final one of the season. Lincoln is currently 1-4 in non-MIAA games. Following Monday's game, Lincoln will close the season by playing 18-straight games against MIAA opponents.
 
PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln is led by Le'Yanna McGinnis, who is averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. Next on the scoring list is Kelsey Mitchell, who is shooting .354 from the floor while averaging 8.4 points. Saniya Simmons (3.8 assists per game) and Niyah Jackson (3.1 apg.) are leading Lincoln in assists, and AJ Bradley averages 5.8 points.
 
HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her third 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
William Jewell 62, Lincoln 58
The game was tied at 57 with 1:42 remaining, but William Jewell outscored Lincoln, 5-1, the rest of the way to win in Jefferson City on Dec. 7, 62-58. Le'Yanna McGinnis had a huge performance, as she led LU with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Aliyah Bello and Niyah Jackson each scored 13 and Saniya Simmons dished five assists
 
Central Missouri 80, Lincoln 58
Miriam Bazylewicz scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds, and Saniya Simmons had 11 points and six assists, but the Blue Tigers fell to Central Missouri, ranked No. 24 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Division II poll, 80-58 on Dec. 11. Aliyah Bello had seven boards and Le'Yanna McGinnis scored nine points to go with three blocks.
 
SCOUTING THE STARS:  Three players do the bulk of the scoring for Stephens, with Allison Moore leading the way with 15.3 points per game. Marveen Ross is tallying 12.2 points per contest as well as 6.0 rebounds, and Cedreanna Lee scores 8.5 points per night. Myliaha Ezeofor leads the Stars with 6.4 rebounds per night.
 
SC HEAD COACH ANDRE BELL:  After leading to an 8-18 record in his first season as the head coach of Stephens, Bell has the Stars off to an 8-1 start in 2022-23. Bell, who has mid-Missouri ties after two stints as an assistant at Moberly Area Community College, was an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Tennessee Tech prior to taking over the head coaching job at Stephens.
 
LEADING LU & THE MIAA TOO:  Le'Yanna McGinnis has been on fire through the first nine games of 2022-23, averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting .565 from the floor. McGinnis' shooting percentage is the third best in the MIAA and ranks 30th in NCAA Division II while her scoring average is the fourth-best in the league. McGinnis has made 61 total field goals, ranking her fifth in the conference.
 
...AND ON THE GLASS:  Le'Yanna McGinnis' 6.8 boards per game not only lead the Blue Tigers, but are also the 10th-most by an MIAA player in 2022-23. McGinnis is attacking the offensive glass for 3.2 boards per night, the second-highest mark in the league, and her 61 total rebounds rank 11th in the conference. McGinnis has 15 rebounds vs. William Jewell, the third-most in a game by an MIAA player this season.
 
IT'S A STEAL:  Saniya Simmons, who is seventh in the MIAA in assists with 3.8 per game, has been an even better thief, as she leads Lincoln with 25 steals this season. That total ranks fourth in the MIAA, and that averages to 2.8 per night, the third-best average in the league. Nationally, Simmons is 33rd in DII in steals per game and 37th in total steals
 
DOWN THE BLOCK:  Through the first nine games of 2022-23, Le'Yanna McGinnis has blocked 14 shots for an average of 1.56 per game. McGinnis is currently third in the MIAA in blocks per game and second in total rejections. On the national level, she is 29th in Division II in total blocked shots.
 
TO THE LINE:  After finishing 13th in the MIAA in free throw percentage in 2021-22, Lincoln has improved its work at the line, shooting .740 this season. Lincoln has seven players shooting .700 or better at the charity stripe, with two players a perfect 1.000. Lincoln's percentage is the third-highest in the MIAA this year, and also ranks as the 68th-best mark in NCAA Division II.
 
KELSEY FOR THREE:  Kelsey Mitchell has been Lincoln's best long-range shooter this year, and her performance has also been among the MIAA's best. Mitchell is making 2.0 treys per contest, the seventh-highest average in the conference. She is shooting .340 from three-point range, which is the sixth-best in the league, while her 18 total made three-pointers rates 10th in the MIAA.
 
UPCOMING SPECIAL GAMES:  On Saturday, Jan. 14, both LU basketball teams will host Northeastern State in the Founders Day Games. LU will help raise awareness for cancer research with its Think Pink doubleheader on Feb. 4 against Pittsburg State. Finally, on Saturday, Feb. 18, LU's double-header against Emporia State will be this year's Senior Day games.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2022-23. 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 13 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 will next play on Saturday, Dec. 31 as LU hosts Nebraska Kearney at 1:00 p.m. CST.