The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

Truman State Men vs. Lindenwood

Series Notes vs. Lindenwood:
Series Record: Truman leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Truman-96, Lindenwood-57 (Nov. 25, 1983 || Kirksville, Mo.)
Series Streak: Truman W-2
Record in Kirksville: Truman leads 2-0 (Truman W-2)
Last TSU win in Kirksville: Truman-96, Lindenwood-57 (Nov. 25, 1983)
Woodley vs. Lindenwood: 0-0
 
A Look at the Lion Match-Up:

The Bulldogs and Lions are on opposite sides of the MIAA's revolving door in the 2012-13 season, as Lindenwood joined the 15-team league on July 1, 2012 as part of its transition into the NCAA Div. II ranks.

With Truman exiting the league on July 1, 2013 for the GLVC, Saturday afternoon marks the first of the only two games the two teams will ever play barring future non-conference scheduling.
 
It will be the first time since the 1983-84 season that Truman and Lindenwood have met, with the Lions taking on Webster (Mo.) in a non-conference tune-up on Wednesday, January 2 before welcoming Truman on Saturday.

The Lions are 3-1 at home this season prior to Wednesday's contest, having most recently lost a double-overtime game to Pittsburg State on Dec. 8.

The Lions opened MIAA play on Dec. 5 at Northwest Missouri and fell 73-66 in overtime.
 
Senior guard Alex Bazzell, a UMKC transfer, is the team's leading scorer at 17.3 ppg and is averaging more than five assists per game.

Senior forward Cody Sorenson is the other double-digit scorer at 12.1 ppg, while senior forward Richie Thompson is averaging nearly a double-double at 9.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg.

The Lions shoot 48% from the floor, 37% from three-point range and 68% from the foul line.
 
Brad Soderberg, formerly the head coach at Saint Louis University, is in his fourth season at Lindenwood.
 
Notably vs. Lindenwood:

•No Bulldog was born the last time the squads met.
 
Dialing Long Distance:

The Bulldogs have taken an average of 21.4 three-point attempts per game so far this season, including a 10-year high of 37 against Missouri Western on December 5.

Truman ranks third in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game at 7.6 and has hit eight or more in all four wins this season.

Truman State Women vs. Lindenwood

Lindenwood (Saturday 1:00 p.m.)
The Lions (3-7; 0-1 MIAA) are in their first season in the MIAA and are in the probationary period as an NCAA Division II member.  

They defeated Benedicine-Springfield (Ill.) 96-71 on Monday afternoon behind 27 points and 16 rebounds from Julie Hlinak.

They lost 82-65 in their conference debut against Pittsburg (Kan.) State on December 8.

Hlinak leads the Lions in scoring at 11.4 points per game while Tori Kuhn second at 10.9.

  Senior Sarah Schnieders eclipsed 1,000 career points for the Lions in Monday's game against Benedictine-Springfield and averages 9.8 points/game and is tied for the team lead in steals with 12.

The two previous meetings with the Lions occurred during the 1970s. Truman won 64-23 in the inaugural 1972-73 campaign and then set a school record for margin of victory over an opponent in a January 10, 1975 game in which the Bulldogs won 110-17 (+93).

The Lions are in their first year in the NCAA from the NAIA and are not eligible for the MIAA postseason and NCAA tournaments.

Courtesy Truman State University