Game Preview:
The Truman Women's Basketball team will host Mount Mercy (Iowa) in their final non-conference tune-up on New Year's Eve. The Bulldogs, riding a six-game home winning streak and have won 11 straight non-conference home games, will get things started at 1:30 p.m. against the Mustangs.
Truman (7-2) has been idle for 12 days following a pair of games in southern California. The Bulldogs defeated host California Baptist 73-67 on Monday, December 17 before falling to Vanguard (Calif.) 65-57 on Tuesday, December 18.
The Bulldogs are one of the top shooting teams in Division II with a 47% field goal percentage that is first in the MIAA and was second in the latest national rankings while shooting 40% from three. Senior
Becka McHenry leads Truman at 13.0 points per game with sophomore guard
Allie Norton averaging 11.3 and junior guard/forward
Nicole Gloor at 10.8 per night.
Mount Mercy (3-10) will host a pair of tournament games on Friday and Saturday against Grace College and Indiana Wesleyan respectively before travelling to Kirksville on Monday. The Mustangs had lost five straight before this weekend's action.
The Mustangs are led in scoring by junior forward Amanda Frost (15.8 ppg) and senior guard Brooke Quigley (13.3 ppg). Mount Mercy is shooting just 33% from the field while averaging 61.8 points per contest.
This is the 11th meeting between the Mustangs and the Bulldogs and first since December of 2000. Truman has won four straight and hold a 6-4 advantage in the series. The Bulldogs won 73-51 in Pershing Arena on December 5, 2000 while the last Mustang victory came on December 5, 1992 by a 79-65 tally. The first meeting between these two schools occurred at the 1979 AIAW Regional Tournament in which Truman finished third with a 72-69 win over the Mustangs in St. Joseph, Mo.
Coaches:
The Bulldogs are under fifth-year head coach Michael Smith who has an overall record of 55-62. He is fourth all-time in victories at Truman and is 22-11 in non-conference games. Smith was previously at Division I, Arkansas-Little Rock is a graduate of Central Methodist (Mo.) and a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State.
Aaron Jennings is also in his fifth season on the bench at Mount Mercy and has a 93-53 overall record in Cedar Rapids. Jennings guided the Mustangs to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament last season with a 27-9 overall record and a 15-3 conference mark.
#Trending:
The Bulldogs have won 11 straight non-conference home games dating back to the 2008 season. The last non-conference home loss came at the hands of Quincy (Ill.) University on Nov. 19, 2008 (76-58).
Truman received votes in two WBCA/USA Today Division II Coaches Polls this season but has not been listed in the last two surveys. The Bulldogs received votes in three polls last season. The last national ranking was in 1999-2000 season.
The Bulldogs are first in the MIAA in field goal percentage (47.4%) and second nationally. They are also first in the conference in rebounding defense (29.3/g) while second in three-point field goal percentage (40.3%%) and third in free throw percentage (73.1%).
Becka McHenry became the sixth Bulldog to achieve 300 assists for her career in last week's game. She is only the third Truman player to score over 900 points (903), have more than 300 rebounds (391) and dish out 300 assists (300). The other two are
Amy Eagan (1527 pts, 643 reb, 529 assists) and Angie Gum (1467 pts, 303 reb, 360 assists).
Allie Norton has led the team in scoring in five games this year and has averaged three triples per game in Truman's last five outings. Norton is shooting 47% from three this season and has 85 threes for her career.
Bulldog Tip-Ins:
-
Truman is 22-11 in non-conference games since Coach Michael Smith took over the program in 2008
-
Truman is averaging 71.6 points and shooting 47% from the field and 40% from three. Last year, they averaged 70.9 points and shot 41% from the field, 37% from the arc and 71% from the line last season.
-
The Bulldogs finished 10-4 in Pershing Arena last season and are 30-23 at home under Coach Smith.
-
Truman has led at the half in six of the nine games with both halftime deficits coming against Missouri Western. One game was tied at the break.
-
Amy Briggs has the team's only double-double this season as she recording 11 points and 10 assist against Harris-Stowe (Mo.). Last year six Bulldogs recorded double-doubles with Jennifer Conway having three, Breanna Daniels two, Allie Norton, Nicole Gloor, Megan Sharpe and Becka McHenry had one apiece.
-
Becka McHenry recorded the first triple-double for the Bulldogs since December 1, 1998 when she scored 14 and had 10 assists and 10 rebounds. It was first in the MIAA since Missouri Western's Tiffany Davis recorded on in 2006 against Washburn (18p, 14,r, 11a).
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will jump into conference play on Thursday night when they host Lincoln (Mo.) University at 5:30 p.m. followed by a road trip to newcomer Lindenwood (Mo.) University on Saturday afternoon. With the new 'pod' scheduling in the MIAA, Truman will play home and home with both the Blue Tigers and Lions this year.
