Dec. 21, 2011
Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Radio: KTGR 1580 AM, ESPN 100.5 FM
Coaches:
MU: Robin Pingeton (St. Ambrose `90) 21-19 at MU (second season)
UM: Melissa McFerrin (Missouri, `83), 4th Season at Memphis (62-47)
Columbia, Mo.--The Mizzou Women's Basketball team hosts the Memphis Tigers this Thursday, Dec. 22. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Mizzou Arena. Memphis head coach Melissa McFerrin is no stranger to Columbia as she is a former Mizzou Tiger. McFerrin played for Missouri from 1979-1983.
LAST TIME OUT
The Tigers hosted the Evansville Purple Aces on Monday, Dec. 9. Mizzou came off the bench hot, scoring within the first ten seconds of play. Seniors BreAnna Brock and Christine Flores combined with freshman Morgan Eye to record 62 of the team's 74 points. The Tigers topped the Purple Aces 74-51 to improve to 8-1 on the season.
UP NEXT
Missouri's next game against Sam Houston State (Dec. 30) marks the Tigers' last in an eight-game home stretch. Mizzou will open up conference play at Baylor on Jan. 4. Moving further into Conference play, the Tigers host Texas Tech on Jan. 7 before heading to Manhattan, Kan. to face Kansas State on Jan. 11.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
The Memphis Tigers are 9-2 on the season, coming to Mizzou off of a 64-60 loss to St. John's. Memphis' other loss on the season came against Ilinois in mid-November. Before dropping to St. John's, the Tigers were hot on a six-game win streak, with five of the six games on their home turf. Senior guard Brittany Carter earned Conference USA co-Player of the Week honors on Monday (Dec. 19). Carter is a consistent presence on the court, and has scored 20 or more points in four of the team's last five games.
SERIES HISTORY WITH MEMPHIS
The Tigers have a close record with Memphis as Mizzou leads the series 6-5 in program history. Missouri opened the 2010-11 season with a victory over Memphis, 67-40. The win stands as head coach Robin Pingeton's first win at the helm of the program.
CONFERENCE USA SERIES HISTORY
Missouri leads it's Conference USA opponents 29-7 in program history. The Tigers most often play against Saint Louis, boasting a 17-0 record against the Billikens.
WELCOME BACK
Memphis head coach, Melissa McFerrin, is no stranger to Tiger Territory as she is a former Missouri Women's Basketball player. A four-year letterwinner, McFerrin played at point guard for Mizzou from 1979-1983. During her reign, the Tigers took home the 1983 Big Eight Championship title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1982. McFerrin earned a Big Eight honorable mention and Scholar-Athlete honors during her career as well.
MILLENNIUM MILESTONE
Christine Flores is approaching the 1,000 point mark this season. She has 993 career points so far. With only seven points to go, she will become the 30th Tiger in program history to join the 1,000 point club.
TIGER TRENDS
>The Tigers have finished all nine games this season with a better shooting percentage than their opponents.
>Mizzou led each of its first five games by at least 19 points this season.
>The Tigers are averaging 39.2 points in the second half of games, nine points more than their opponents who average 30.8.
> Mizzou has won the block battle in every contest so far...BreAnna Brock and Christine Flores lead the way with 69 of 77 total blocks this season.
> Mizzou has had more assists than each of their opponents in eight of their first nine games...Missouri averages 16.33 assists per game which ranks them sixth in the Big 12.
>Missouri has outscored their opponent in the paint in six of their nine games this season. Against UTSA, the Tigers and Roadrunners each scored 22 points in the paint.
>At least two Tigers have hit double figures in scoring in every game this season. Missouri has had three Tigers in double figures in five of the nine games this season.
>In seven games this season, the Tigers' largest lead of the game has been 19 points or higher.