Lions tip off basketball practice Saturday Lions tip off basketball practice Saturday

Missouri Southern’s preparation for the 2005-06 basketball season officially gets under way Saturday (Oct. 15) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the MSSU campus.

Missouri Southern’s women will be the first on the floor, opening practice at 10 a.m. Saturday. The MSSU men are slated to hit the hardwood at 2 p.m.

Not only are coaches Robert Corn and Maryann Mitts optimistic about the new season, they’re downright excited.

“I’ve been impressed with the attitude and work ethic of this group so far,” said Corn, 252-202 in 16 years with the Lions. “Ronnie (assistant coach Ressel) and Aundrey (assistant Wright) have worked them extremely hard in the preseason-conditioning program and they’ve responded in a positive way. That’s encouraging going into the start of the season.”

“We have a lot of players who have a lot of emotion on the floor. I think they’ll be fun to watch. And I think Southern fans are going to see a team that’s going to outplay its opponents,” said Mitts, 68-46 in five seasons at Missouri Southern. “I think our fans will see a team similar to ones they’ve seen in the past. Hopefully, they’ll see a team that’s well coached, a team that works as a team, a team that executes offensively, and a team that is as good defensively as we’ve always been.”

The Lion men have three starters and five other lettermen back from a team that was perhaps as streaky as they come in 2004-05. Southern finished only 14-18 last season, but rode a five-game winning streak into the MIAA Postseason Tournament championship game and finished just one win away from an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Leading the returning starters is senior guard Quentin Edwards (Peoria, Ill.), who finished second on the team last year in scoring (11.5 points per game), assists (3.1 pg) and steals (1.8 pg).

Point guard Tyler Ryerson (Willard, Mo.), a sophomore who was second in the MIAA with 4.5 assists per game in his first collegiate season, is also back. Another returning starter, center/forward Dan Jones (Sarcoxie, Mo.), joins Edwards as one of four seniors on the MSSU roster this year. Jones led the Lion regulars with a 62.5 field goal percentage in 2004-05.

Five newcomers, including four junior college transfers, are also on the roster for Corn’s 17th season at the helm.

Missouri Southern’s women return only three letterwinners from last year’s 17-11 squad that finished sixth in the MIAA with a 9-9 record. However, two of those letterwinners are starters Nicole Greninger (Webb City, Mo.) and Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.). Greninger (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) led the Lions with 36 three-point field goals and a 40.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc last year. Reutlinger finished third on the team with 8.4 points per game and was second with 6.2 rebounds an outing.

Briana Volmer (Parsons, Kan.), a 6-foot-2 center, returns as a sophomore in 2005-06 after gaining valuable experience in 18 games as a true freshman last season. Plus, Southern fans will get their first look at redshirt freshman guard Danielle DeVader (Holton, Kan.), who averaged 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game during her high school career. She missed last season with a knee injury.

Head coach Maryann Mitts and her staff brought in nine newcomers, including five junior college transfers and one NCAA Division I transfer, this season.

Missouri Southern’s annual Meet the Lions Night is slated for Oct. 27 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Both MSSU squads have a couple of high profile exhibition games on the schedule this year. The Southern women play at the University of Missouri on Nov. 5 and at the University of Arkansas on Nov. 11. The Lion men, after an exhibition opener at home vs. Livin’ the Dream on Nov. 3, travel to the University of Missouri for a Nov. 8 exhibition and play at Missouri State University (former Southwest Missouri State) two nights later.

The 2005-06 season begins in earnest for the Lions on Nov. 15 at the Leggett & Platt Athletics Center, as the MSSU women welcome East Central (Okla.) for a 5: 30 p.m. clash, followed by the Southern men vs. Central Bible (Mo.) at 7:30 p.m.


	Oct. 14, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lions tip off basketball practice Saturday MSSU men return three starters, Lion women bring back two Missouri Southern’s preparation for the 2005-06 basketball season officially gets under way Saturday (Oct. 15) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the MSSU campus. Missouri Southern’s women will be the first on the floor, opening practice at 10 a.m. Saturday. The MSSU men are slated to hit the hardwood at 2 p.m. Not only are coaches Robert Corn and Maryann Mitts optimistic about the new season, they’re downright excited. “I’ve been impressed with the attitude and work ethic of this group so far,” said Corn, 252-202 in 16 years with the Lions. “Ronnie (assistant coach Ressel) and Aundrey (assistant Wright) have worked them extremely hard in the preseason-conditioning program and they’ve responded in a positive way. That’s encouraging going into the start of the season.” “We have a lot of players who have a lot of emotion on the floor. I think they’ll be fun to watch. And I think Southern fans are going to see a team that’s going to outplay its opponents,” said Mitts, 68-46 in five seasons at Missouri Southern. “I think our fans will see a team similar to ones they’ve seen in the past. Hopefully, they’ll see a team that’s well coached, a team that works as a team, a team that executes offensively, and a team that is as good defensively as we’ve always been.” The Lion men have three starters and five other lettermen back from a team that was perhaps as streaky as they come in 2004-05. Southern finished only 14-18 last season, but rode a five-game winning streak into the MIAA Postseason Tournament championship game and finished just one win away from an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II tournament. Leading the returning starters is senior guard Quentin Edwards (Peoria, Ill.), who finished second on the team last year in scoring (11.5 points per game), assists (3.1 pg) and steals (1.8 pg). Point guard Tyler Ryerson (Willard, Mo.), a sophomore who was second in the MIAA with 4.5 assists per game in his first collegiate season, is also back. Another returning starter, center/forward Dan Jones (Sarcoxie, Mo.), joins Edwards as one of four seniors on the MSSU roster this year. Jones led the Lion regulars with a 62.5 field goal percentage in 2004-05. Five newcomers, including four junior college transfers, are also on the roster for Corn’s 17th season at the helm. Missouri Southern’s women return only three letterwinners from last year’s 17-11 squad that finished sixth in the MIAA with a 9-9 record. However, two of those letterwinners are starters Nicole Greninger (Webb City, Mo.) and Dacie Reutlinger (Owasso, Okla.). Greninger (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) led the Lions with 36 three-point field goals and a 40.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc last year. Reutlinger finished third on the team with 8.4 points per game and was second with 6.2 rebounds an outing. Briana Volmer (Parsons, Kan.), a 6-foot-2 center, returns as a sophomore in 2005-06 after gaining valuable experience in 18 games as a true freshman last season. Plus, Southern fans will get their first look at redshirt freshman guard Danielle DeVader (Holton, Kan.), who averaged 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game during her high school career. She missed last season with a knee injury. Head coach Maryann Mitts and her staff brought in nine newcomers, including five junior college transfers and one NCAA Division I transfer, this season. Missouri Southern’s annual Meet the Lions Night is slated for Oct. 27 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Both MSSU squads have a couple of high profile exhibition games on the schedule this year. The Southern women play at the University of Missouri on Nov. 5 and at the University of Arkansas on Nov. 11. The Lion men, after an exhibition opener at home vs. Livin’ the Dream on Nov. 3, travel to the University of Missouri for a Nov. 8 exhibition and play at Missouri State University (former Southwest Missouri State) two nights later. The 2005-06 season begins in earnest for the Lions on Nov. 15 at the Leggett & Platt Athletics Center, as the MSSU women welcome East Central (Okla.) for a 5: 30 p.m. clash, followed by the Southern men vs. Central Bible (Mo.) at 7:30 p.m.