The Lincoln men's and women's basketball teams will look to end three-game skids when the Blue Tigers host Missouri Western in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup today at Jason Gym.
The Lincoln women (4-19, 1-15) will face Missouri Western (9-13, 4-11) at 5:30 p.m., while the Blue Tiger men (3-21, 1-15) will meet the Griffons (9-14, 4-11) at 7:30.
The Blue Tiger men, who are mathematically still in the running to earn the final spot in the MIAA Tournament, could help spoil the Griffons' playoff hopes.
Missouri Western is clinging to the 12th and final seed in the league tournament, and with games coming up against MIAA leaders Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri, the Griffons need a win today to help secure their berth.
Missouri Western, which is 0-9 on the road this season, is on a four-game skid and has not won since claiming a 99-71 victory against Lincoln on Jan. 29 in St. Joseph.
Ryan Devers leads three Missouri Western players in double figures with 16.8 points per game. Cortez Colbert (14 ppg) and Adarius Fulton (10 ppg) help pace the Griffons, who are ranked 11th in the league in scoring offense (76.3 ppg) and 10th in scoring defense (80.3 ppg).
Lincoln, which is coming off a 98-69 loss to Southwest Baptist on Saturday, is still ranked last in both categories.
Joshua Buie has emerged as the Blue Tigers' top scorer after averaging 20.1 points in the last 10 games. On the season, Buie is averaging 16 ppg and also leads Lincoln in assists (3.2) and steals (1.9).
Mike Smith is next on the scoring chart at 15.8 ppg. The 6-foot-6 junior is coming off a seven-point performance on Saturday, but has reached double figures 16 times and has scored more than 20 points on six occasions this season.
The Lincoln women will try to end their season on a positive, as well.
The Blue Tigers, who are coming off a 68-55 loss to Southwest Baptist on Saturday, haven't won a game since posting a 67-58 win against Lindenwood on Feb 6.
Missouri Western has also lost its last three games and is just 1-9 on the road this season.
Sharniece Lewis averages 9.4 points per game to lead the Griffons, who are ranked 12th in the MIAA in scoring offense (61 ppg) and third in scoring defense (59.7 ppg).
The Blue Tigers, who suffered a 42-28 loss to Missouri Western on Jan. 29, are ranked last in the league in scoring offense (57.7 ppg) and 11th in scoring defense (68.4 ppg).
With 16 double-digit performances in 22 games, Jennifer Rosado is Lincoln's leading scorer with 13.5 points per game.
Hunter Yoakum, who tallied a season-high 22 points against Southwest Baptist, is next with 10.6 ppg, followed by Angela Randall's 9.2 average. Randall leads Lincoln in rebounding (5.9), assists (2.6) and steals (2).
Both Lincoln programs will play their final road game on Saturday at Lindenwood before hosting Missouri Southern in the season finale on March 1.