Complete Game Notes | Game Day Policies
Game #11: Evangel (5-4) at Lincoln (4-6, 1-4 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Site: Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #12: Lincoln at Nebraska Kearney (10-2, 4-2 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Site: Kearney, Neb.
Live Stats: https://lopers.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

Game #13: Lincoln at #16 Fort Hays State (10-1, 5-1 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. CST
Site: Hays, Kan.
Live Stats: https://fhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball
Live Video: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/LUBlueTigers

THE TIP OFF:  One year ends and another begins over the next eight days as the Lincoln women's basketball team prepares for three opponents. The Blue Tigers host Evangel this Saturday (Dec. 30) in their final game of 2023, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST. LU opens 2024 on the road, as Lincoln travels to Kearney, Neb. for an MIAA match-up with Nebraska Kearney at 5:30 p.m. CST on Thursday (Jan. 4). Next Saturday (Jan. 6), the Blue Tigers visit Hays, Kan. to take on Fort Hays State, which is currently ranked No. 16 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Division II poll. Tip-off for that game is slated for 2:00 p.m. CST.

FAST BREAKS
- This Saturday, Lincoln and Evangel will meet for only the second time in LU's history as a Division II program. Lincoln won the first meeting, 70-43, in Jefferson City back in 1981-82.

- Lincoln will play Nebraska Kearney on Thursday for the 16th time, with the Lopers leading the series, 14-1.

- The Blue Tigers beat Nebraska Kearney during the 2014-15 season inside Jason Gym, 90-68.

- Next Saturday will mark the 21st meeting between LU and FHSU, with Fort Hays State leading the series, 19-1

- LU last beat FHSU on the road, 76-75, in 2011-12.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Leading the Blue Tigers in both scoring (16.0) and rebounding (8.5) is Ashlyn Alloway, who also has 14 steals and 11 blocks. Steph Torres averages 12.3 points as well as a team-high 2.8 assists while AJ Bradley is next on the scoring chart with 7.1 ppg. Imani Jones averages 6.6 points while Biance Stocks averages 5.9 points and 3.9 boards.

HEAD COACH ANDREA MIZE:  Andrea Mize is in her fourth 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
Missouri Southern 76, Lincoln 57
Lincoln shot .611 from the floor en route to a 27-point fourth quarter, but Missouri Southern held off Lincoln's rally to win, 76-57, in Jason Gym on Dec. 16. Imani Jones led Lincoln with 14 points, AJ Bradley scored 11 and Steph Torres added 10. Ashlyn Alloway finished with seven points as well as 11 rebounds.

Pittsburg State 73, Lincoln 57
Ashlyn Alloway led Lincoln with 21 points and seven rebounds, but Pittsburg State led from start to finish to beat the Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, 73-57, on Dec. 18. Steph Torres added 11 points and AJ Bradley collected seven rebounds. The big difference came at the line, though, as LU was 10-19 on free throws while PSU was 15-16.

SCOUTING THE VALOR:  Evangel has a balanced scoring attack that averages 67.1 points while its opponents only average 63.7. Kamie Jenkins leads the way with 9.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while Lydia Babirye averages 8.1 points and four other players total just over seven points per night. The Valor are out-rebounding opponents 43.6-35.1, but shoot just .228 from three-point range.

EU HEAD COACH JIM MIDDLETON:  A longtime high school and college coach as well as a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Middleton is in his first year at Evangel. The 2008 MIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year, Middleton coached at Southwest Baptist for 14 seasons and led the Bearcats to six appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament. Middleton later coached Nixa High to a Class 5 Missouri State Championship.

SCOUTING THE LOPERS:  Shiloh McCool is almost averaging a double-double, leading UNK with 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Her performance has helped Nebraska Kearney out-score its opponents by an average of 76.6-53.7 per night. Kia Wilson averages 10.3 points while Meg Burns is next with 10.1 points per contest. The Lopers average 44.5 rebounds compared to 30.8 by its opponents and shoot .440 from the field.

UNK HEAD COACH DREW JOHNSON:  The first-year coach of the Lopers is no stranger to the MIAA, as he coached at Newman for two years, posting a 13-43 record. Johnson, who is 10-2 with the Lopers, helped rebuild Bethel from a four-win team to a 20-win program as the head coach between 2017-21.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:  Katie Wagner leads Fort Hays State with 17.6 points and 8.7 boards per game and averages 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals. Olivia Hollenbeck is next on the scoring chart with 9.2 points per contest, and Sydney Golladay dishes a team-high 2.9 assists per game while Emma Ruddle averages 7.6 points.

FHSU HEAD COACH TALIA KAHRS:  Kahrs is in her first season as the head coach at Fort Hays State after spending the previous 11 years as the program's top assistant. Kahrs helped FHSU win 293 games as an assistant coach with 12-straight 20-win seasons. She has also helped lead FHSU to four MIAA regular season championships and two MIAA tournament titles.

TOP-THREE: AJ Bradley has excelled at getting to the line, as, in four years at Lincoln, she has attempted 393 free throws. Bradley has made 266 of those attempts and has moved into third place all-time in program history in total career made free throws. She passed Sheila Lee, who made 257 free throws between 2001-04. Bradley is now 33 free throws away from second place, held by Andrea Sykes, who made 298 shots at the line from 1995-99.

TORR DE FORCE:  Steph Torres, who leads Lincoln with 2.8 assists per game, has emerged as LU's second-leading scorer with 12.3 points per night. Torres has the MIAA's 11th-most assists and her 32.7 minutes per game are fourth-most in the league.

ALL-COURT ALLOWAY:  Ashlyn Alloway leads the Blue Tigers on both sides of the court, emerging as LU's best player on both offense and defense. Alloway averages 16.0 points as well as 8.5 rebounds, both of which are team highs. Alloway is also making her presence on the court felt with 14 steals, 12 assists and 11 blocks, and she is shooting .550 from the field.

GET YOUR TICKETS:  Lincoln is partnering up with Hometown Ticketing once again to sell tickets to all of LU's basketball games online in 2023-24. For more information, or to purchase single game or regular season tickets, 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 hosts Emporia State on Jan. 11 in Jefferson City in a 5:30 p.m. CST contest.