KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two of the hottest starting teams in the MIAA during the Fall portion of the 2007-08 schedule are slated to clash as one of five games to open MIAA women's basketball action Wednesday (Jan. 2).

The 16th-ranked and undefeated Missouri Southern Lions (9-0, 0-0 MIAA), head to Kirksville to face Truman (8-1, 0-0 MIAA).

The Lions' win streak to open this season topped last year's 8-0 mark, and MSSU hopes it can build more on the hot start than in 2006-07. Southern finished last season with just six wins in its last 19 games.

Truman is 8-1 for just the second time in the program's history. The Bulldogs won eight of their first nine in the 1998-99 season -- en route to a 22-9 record and a spot in the regional final.

Truman has the No. 3 scoring offense (78.3 ppg) in the MIAA, and faces the top scoring defense (45.3 papg) and field goal percentage defense (27.2 percent) in the conference.

No. 4 Washburn (8-1, 0-0 MIAA) opens league play with a rematch of the MIAA Tournament championship game, as the Lady Blues visit Missouri Western (5-3, 0-0 MIAA).

WU rebounded from a loss at current-No. 3 Drury (Mo.) with a pair of victories at the Cruzin' Classic in Florida over regional foes Cameron (Okla.) and Central Oklahoma. MWSU has won four of its last five after getting out to a 1-2 start under new head coach Lynn Plett.

Riding a seven-game winning streak, Southwest Baptist (8-1, 0- 0 MIAA) plays just its second true road game of the season as the Lady Bearcats head to Northwest Missouri State (5-4, 0-0 MIAA).

SBU head coach Jim Middleton needs one more win to tie WU's Patty Dick (1989-2000 -- 227) for seventh on the MIAA's career coaching wins list.

Northwest has just one win in its last five games after jumping out to a 4-0 start.

No. 13 Emporia State (7-2, 0-0 MIAA) heads to Fort Hays State (6-3, 0-0 MIAA) to open league play. FHSU comes to White Auditorium with a four-game winning streak, something the Lady Hornets will be aiming for themselves with a win over the Tigers.

Pittsburg State (6-3, 0-0 MIAA) hosts Central Missouri (5-4, 0-0 MIAA), as Jennies head coach David Slifer needs one more win to pass former MSSU and UCM coach Scott Ballard for second place on the MIAA's all-time coaching victories list. Slifer and Ballard each have 269 MIAA victories -- 27 behind former Pitt State bench boss Steve High's total of 296.

STUEVE WATCH: Emporia State senior F Michelle Stueve continues to climb both the MIAA's career scoring and rebounding lists.

The Olpe, Kan., native passed former Lady Hornet Emily Bloss (1997-2001 -- 1,915) in ESU's 93-86 win over then No. 23 Shaw (N.C.) during the Hoop 'N' Surf Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 17. She enters MIAA play with 1,948 points -- 30 behind Central Missouri's Barb Sorensen (1986-90 -- 1,977) in eighth.

The next day against Oklahoma Panhandle State, Stueve passed Sorensen (850) for eighth on the rebounds list -- her 852 boards are three behind UCM's Rachel Matakas (1993-96 -- 855) for seventh place.

Stueve has a chance to become just the third member of the MIAA's 2000-1000 club -- needing 52 points and 148 rebounds to be the first addition since Central Missouri's Tammy Wilson in 1989.

Team-by-Team Notes

Central Missouri: Senior C Jojuana Jones posted back-to-back double-doubles as UCM split its two games at the Cruzin' Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 19-20 -- she had 11 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Bellarmine (Ky.) and 14 points with 15 boards in the loss to Cameron (Okla.)... Senior G Lindsey Maple tied a school record with seven three-pointers vs. Cameron... The Jennies are at Washburn Saturday (Jan. 5).

Emporia State: Junior F Ida Edwards made her ESU debut at the Hoop 'N' Surf Classic after sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules -- she averaged 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two wins... Junior F Allie Renberg posted her third double-double in four games with 18 points and 11 rebounds vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State Dec. 18... Freshman F Alli Volkens had a career-high 24 points vs. Shaw (N.C.) Dec. 17.

Fort Hays State: Sophomore G Naomi Bancroft was 5-of-5 from three-point range in the win over Saint Mary (Kan.) Dec. 29... Senior G Sheena Kuntzsch has scored 16 points in three of her last four games... The Tigers are 1-4 when scoring 60 points or less this season -- FHSU averages a league-low 66.0 points per game... The Tigers have averaged 26.7 turnovers in their last three games... FHSU plays at Northwest Saturday.

Missouri Southern: Senior F Fatai Hala'Api'Api scored a career-high 27 points in the Lions' 79-62 home win over Evangel (Mo.) Dec. 19... Besides leading the MIAA in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, MSSU paces the loop in scoring margin (+26.0 ppg) and three-point field goal defense (16.1 percent)... Junior G India Wood had a career-best nine assists vs. Evangel... MSSU hosts Western Saturday.

Missouri Western: Senior F Jill Johnson scored 27 points and added 11 rebounds for her second double-double in three games as the Griffons downed Central Methodist (Mo.), 99-56, Saturday (Dec. 29)... Senior G Chemia Woods logged a career-high 18 points against CMU... F Tierra Ford is ranked second among freshman scorers in the MIAA at 8.9 ppg -- G Lauren Nolke is tied for seventh at 5.8 ppg with F Rachel Luteyn.

Northwest Missouri State: The Bearcats snapped a three-game skid with a 108-40 win over Chaminade (Hawaii) to open the Hoop 'N' Surf Classic before falling to Angelo (Texas) State... Senior C Mandi Schumacher reached exactly 1,000 career points vs. Chaminade, scoring 17 to lead six Bearcats in double figures -- she added 20 vs. ASU... Northwest missed 16 straight threes vs. Angelo State before connecting.

Pittsburg State: The Gorillas are seeking their first win in a MIAA opener since defeating UCM, 55-52, to begin the 2001-02 league slate... Senior G Liz Witte averaged 16.0 points as PSU split a pair of games at the Henderson (Ark.) State Classic Dec. 17-18... Junior G Brianna Buchanan had her string of consecutive games scoring in double figures snapped at eight vs. Southern Arkansas (9 pts.)... PSU is at Truman Saturday.

Southwest Baptist: Freshman G Katelin Cutbirth scored a career-high 24 points in the Lady Bearcats' 87-68 win over Arkansas-Monticello Dec. 20 -- she leads a trio of SBU rookies on the MIAA's freshman scoring list (third -- 8.2 ppg), F Courtney Heady is fourth (7.9 ppg) while G Darla Gatschenberger is sixth (5.8 ppg)... SBU was held to its lowest scoring output of the season in a 61-41 win at Lincoln (Mo.) Dec. 18.

Truman: The Bulldogs swept their two games in Hawaii with wins over Hawaii Pacific and Shaw (N.C.)... Junior F Georgia Mueller, the MIAA leader in double-doubles with five, reached 1,000 career points vs. Shaw, scoring 19 to bring her career total to 1,007... The McGee sisters, senior Gs Carmen (18) and Candice (13), combined for 31 points vs. Shaw... Sophomore G Julie Guinn had a career-high 11 points vs. HPU.

Washburn: Senior G Corkey Stiger has averaged 18.8 ppg in her last six games, after scoring 19 to lead the Lady Blues to a 66-56 win over Central Oklahoma in the Cruzin' Classic Dec. 20 ... Senior F Amanda Holmes scored 11 of her 15 points vs. UCO at the foul line and added 10 rebounds... WU has played 80 straight games without a foe making 50 percent from the field, and 260 without allowing 100 points in a game.

-- MIAA --