ST. LOUIS – [AMC TOURNAMENT BRACKET] [GAME NOTES] 

2015 AMC CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT – FIRST ROUND

(10)Missouri Baptist at (7)Harris-Stowe

SITE: Emerson Performance Center

LOCATION: St. Louis, Mo.

TIP: 7:00 p.m.

COVERAGE: Spartan Digital Network (Audio Broadcast)

Missouri Baptist women's basketball will not need to travel far for the first round of the American Midwest Conference Basketball Tournament, set to begin on Monday at campus sites around the conference. The Spartans ended the season as the No. 10 seed and will travel just down the street to Harris-Stowe State University on Monday evening to take-on the Hornets.

In terms of potential opponents, Monday's game against Harris-Stowe presents a favorable matchup for the Spartans. MBU split the season series with the Hornets and will have an opportunity to play what is as close to a home game as the team could have asked for.

In order to advance past the Hornets, however, the Spartans will have work to do, mainly in stopping Harris-Stowe senior guard Mia Wesley. The native of the nation's capital, Wesley has torched MBU this season to the tune of 59 points in two games. A fact that is not lost on Head Coach Iris Dixon.

"We will look to defend her by keeping the ball out of her hands," said Dixon of Wesley. "Once she gives it up, the goal will be to deny her the ball; force her to shoot off the dribble and not give her wide-open shots."

A task easier said than done, but Dixon realizes that keeping Wesley out of transition can mean the difference between the season continuing and its end.

"It is about effort, hustle and discipline and knowing where she is," Dixon went on to say. "She is a good player and she will look for opportunities to score. We have to be diligent in our defense and execution."

The Hornets will also present another challenge to the Spartans; one in which they are very familiar with. Over the course of three seasons, Shanique Buford has found much success against Missouri Baptist. The senior forward has averaged 15 points per game in her career versus MBU.

The Spartans will have challenges, but found specific success against a William Woods team that is one of the top teams in the NAIA on Saturday. MBU was strong on the offensive boards and out-rebounded the Owls there 15-12.

MBU was also excellent with ball possession and committed just 11 turnovers in the contest. Those two numbers, combined with their holding the Owls to under 38 percent from the floor, could be factors if those successes continue on Monday.