Shockers v Missouri State (Saturday, 2pm)

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers complete the first half of their Valley conference schedule with a game against Missouri State on Saturday.

The Bears are the preseason Valley favorite. Their current conference record is 6-2 with both losses, strangely enough, coming at home to Drake and Northern Iowa - strangely at home, not to the particular opponents. They have an overall record of 13-7. Guard Kenzie Williams was an All-Conference player last year and is a preseason All-Conference pick. She is averaging 13.9 ppg and has twice been named Valley Player of the Week. Cohort in the backcourt, Tyonna Snow, has also been named POW twice and averages 14.9 ppg. Hillary Chvatal is the inside presence and averages 9.8 ppg and 7.6 rpg with a POW award to her credit. The Bears average 70 ppg, having a 5 point advantage over their opponents. Both they and their opponents shoot about 40% from the field.

The Shockers are fresh off winning both games at home last weekend for a 2-6 conference mark. They are 5-14 overall. The Shocks average 52.4 ppg, a 7.7 ppg deficit to their opponents. They shoot at 38% from the field while their opponents shoot at 41.5%. Rangie at 15.3 ppg and TaQuandra at 11.7 ppg continue to lead the scorers. With this week's award, Rangie has now been Newcomer of the Week three times.

The LiveStats are here. The streaming video is here. The Shocker writeup is here. The Missouri State writeup of the game is here.

[flyingMoose]

Game day article from the Eagle

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 57-77 Missouri State

What's to say? The Bears are better than the Shockers.

I would not have thought it, but both teams shot about 45% from the field. However, the Shocks had 24 turnovers to 16 for Missouri State. The Bears had 18 offensive rebounds to 9 for the Shocks. Missouri State had 13 more field goal attempts and 6 more makes. They also sank 5 more three-balls than the Shockers.

The Shockers occasionally ran a 1-2-2 zone in the half-court with Jaleesa at the top. Trying to trap out of that seemed to cause some problems for Missouri State. More often, the Bears ran a 2-3 zone and trapped up top with it. That seemed to cause the Shocks a lot of problems. Missouri State had 17 assists on their 27 field goals. The Shockers had 8 assists on their 21 field goals.

TaQuandra led the Shocker scoring with 18, almost half of it in the fourth quarter when the game was pretty much decided. (The Bears led by 12 after three quarters). Jaleesa actually had nine field goal attempts and scored 12. Rangie was the other Shocker in double digits, contributing 10.

[flyingMoose]

Friday Scores

Loyola 64-60 Northern Iowa

Bradley 64-76 Drake

Southern Illinois 76-64 Indiana State

Evansville 57-64 Illinois State


After today's game, there are four teams with two losses: Drake, Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Loyola. Drake is at Loyola on Sunday as the Valley completes the first half of the conference schedule.

[1972Shocker]

I'm sure Missouri State was quite motivated to end their 8 game losing streak to the Shockers and yes, they are the better team this year.

[flyingMoose]

Game articles from the Eagle and the News-Leader

[flyingMoose]

Sunday Scores

Loyola 65-81 Drake
Down 21-8 after the first quarter, the Bulldogs come roaring back for a big road win.

Bradley 47-55 Northern Iowa

Southern Illinois 76-71 Illinois State

Evansville 44-59 Indiana State


At the half-way point of the Valley conference schedule, the two-loss teams are Missouri State, Drake and Northern Iowa. The Bears travel to Drake and Northern Iowa next weekend. The Panthers host Drake later in February.

Southern Illinois and Loyola have three losses.

[flyingMoose]

At 98, Missouri State is the only Vally team with an RPI less than 100. The Shockers are at 289.