Dec. 15, 2006
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With final exams in the rear-view mirror, the Missouri women's basketball team will open a three-game homestand against South Dakota State on Sunday at Mizzou Arena. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Central time.
The Tigers are off to the best start in school history, joining four previous teams at 9-1 through 10 games. Mizzou is riding a season-best six-game winning streak and has thrived of late due to the emergence of center EeTisha Riddle.
Riddle has posted four-consecutive games of at least 20 points and was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second-straight time following double-doubles last week against Ohio and at Northwestern. The senior from O'Fallon, Ill., became just the third player in league history to be voted player of the week in back-to-back weeks. In the last four games she has averaged 21 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting a robust 65 percent from the floor. She also has a squad-best 12 steals during the stretch.
As a team, the Tigers have been winning with a mix of intense defense and solid shooting. They have held their last five opponents to 62 points and forced them into an average of 21 turnovers per game. MU has also shot the ball well against some strong defenses.
Mizzou has shot at least 40 percent in its last five with above average showings against Ohio and Northwestern - both of which came into their game with MU ranked among the top-15 nationally in field-goal percentage defense. The Bobcats were allowing just 28 percent for their opponents and the Tigers shot 40 percent, while Missouri shot 45 percent at Northwestern when they were holding teams to 33 percent.
Missouri will be in for yet another tough challenge on Sunday afternoon as South Dakota State (8-2) is allowing just 57 points and 35 percent shooting per outing. The Jackrabbits have won four-straight, including victories at Kansas and at home over Southern Illinois and Colorado. Earlier in the season SDSU - who is in its transition from Division II to Division I and will join the Mid-Continent Conference in 2007-08 - defeated Middle Tennessee, Southern California and Virginia.
Senior guard/forward Megan Vogel has been the team's leading scorer in seven games while posting a scoring average of 16.9 ppg. The Jacks employ a deep bench with no player averaging more than 28 minutes and nine logging at least 12 minutes a contest.
Following Sunday's game Missouri will face Prairie View A&M and head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. After a nine-day break the Tigers will conclude their longest homestand of the season and non-conference ledger against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday, Dec. 29 at 6:30 p.m.