Complete Game Notes
Game #8: William Jewell (1-8) at Lincoln (1-6, 0-3 MIAA)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #9: Lincoln at #24 Central Missouri (5-0, 2-0 MIAA)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Site: Warrensburg, Mo.
Live Stats: https://ucmathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  The Lincoln women's basketball team steps out of conference play to close a three-game homestand on Wednesday night (Dec. 7) when the Blue Tigers host William Jewell at 5:30 p.m. CST. It's the first of two games in five days for LU, as Lincoln visits Warrensburg, Mo. on Sunday (Dec. 11) to play Central Missouri in the final MIAA game for both teams before the holiday break. Lincoln dropped its last two games, both at home, including falling to Newman in overtime on Dec. 1, 74-67. William Jewell is 1-8 on the season, with the lone win coming at home against Blackburn on Nov. 18. Central Missouri, meanwhile, is ranked No. 24 in the country in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Division II poll.

FAST BREAKS
- The Blue Tigers and the Cardinals will meet for the fifth time on Wednesday, with William Jewell leading the all-time series, 3-1.

- Lincoln beat William Jewell last season, 65-50.

- LU and UCM will play for the 66th time on Sunday, with the Jennies leading the series, 62-3.

- Lincoln's last victory over a nationally-ranked team came in the first round of the 2012 MIAA championship, as LU beat Pittsburg State, then ranked No. 12 in the country, 83-77 in Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln is led by Le'Yanna McGinnis, who is averaging 17.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. Next on the scoring list is Kelsey Mitchell, who is shooting .391 from the floor while averaging 9.6 points. Saniya Simmons (3.3 assists per game) and Niyah Jackson (3.1 apg.) are leading Lincoln in assists, and AJ Bradley averages 7.3 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
Newman 74, Lincoln 67 (OT)
Newman hit a layup with 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and used a 7-0 run in the extra period to beat Lincoln, 74-67, in Jason Gym on Thursday (Dec. 1). Ashlyn Alloway and Niyah Jackson each scored 12 points, Aysia Arrowood added 10 points and Saniya Simmons added nine points and five steals. Coming off the bench, Le'Yanna McGinnis scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds to go with three blocks.

Central Oklahoma 96, Lincoln 75
Central Oklahoma scored 32 points in the opening quarter en route to a 96-75 win over the Lincoln on Saturday (Dec. 3) in Jason Gym. Four Blue Tigers scored in double figures, with AJ Bradley scoring 16 to go with four assists. Le'Yanna McGinnis had 18 points and seven boards while Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points and Ashlyn Alloway scored 10.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS:  Emree Zars is averaging 9.0 points and 7.9 rebounds, and Kate Hillyer leads William Jewell with 9.1 points per game. Ayden Shannon is next with 8.8 ppg., and Chloe Frank is averaging 8.0 ppg. The Cardinals are allowing 68.0 points per contest.

WJC HEAD COACH JILL SLOMINSKI:  In 27 years at William Jewell, Slominski has more than 450 victories. Nine WJC teams under Slominski's watch have won at least 20 games, and she took the program to the NAIA Sweet 16 three times. Slominski has coached 67 all-league athletes.

SCOUTING THE JENNIES:  The undefeated, 5-0 Jennies are led by Brooke Littrell, who averages 19.2 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting .594 from the floor and .778 at the line. Ashley Tull (8.2 rebounds per game) and Kade Hackerott (9.2 points, 7.8 rebounds) are the top rebounders, and Olivia Nelson (13.0 ppg.) and Lauren Frost (10.4 ppg.) are next on the scoring chart. Tull also had 11 blocks and seven steals on the season.

UCM HEAD COACH DAVE SLIFER:  Entering the weekend, Slifer has over 375 victories with the Jennies, the most of any coach in the history of the UCM program, and more than 750 wins in his career. Slifer, who was selected as the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2013, has led the Jennies to 11 seasons with 20 or more wins and the 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship.

HOME FOR DECEMBER:  After opening the 2022-23 slate with five games at neutral courts or on the road, Lincoln is finally enjoying some home cooking in December. The Blue Tigers play five of their six games in that month in Jason Gym, including Wednesday's contest against William Jewell. LU will also host Stephens on Dec. 19 and Nebraska Kearney on Dec. 31.

BRILLIANT McGINNIS:  Le'Yanna McGinnis has been on fire through the first five games of 2022-23, averaging 17.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting .596 from the floor. McGinnis' shooting percentage leads the MIAA and ranks 21st in NCAA Division II while her scorign average is the fourth-best in the conference. McGinnis has made 53 total field goals, ranking her 32nd in the nation.

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK:  With LU's two games this week, Lincoln will have played a contest on every single day of the week in 2022-23. LU, which is playing on Wednesday and Sunday this week, has twice played on Saturday and Monday this season. The Blue Tigers are 1-0 on Friday, and also have a Tuesday game under their belts. Last week's home opener against Newman was Lincoln's first Thursday game of the year.

DOWN THE BLOCK:  Through the first seven games of 2022-23, Le'Yanna McGinnis has blocked 10 shots for an average of 1.43 per game. McGinnis is currently fourth in the MIAA in blocks per game and sixth in total rejections. On the national level, she is 45th in Division II in blocked shots per contest.

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 .731 this season. Lincoln has seven players shooting .700 or better at the charity stripe, with three players a perfect 1.000. Lincoln's percentage is the sixth-highest in the MIAA this year, and LU is seventh in the conference in free throws made per game (12.4).

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:  Lincoln is off until Monday, Dec. 19, when the Blue Tigers host Stephens in Jason Gym at 5:30 p.m. CST.