Nov. 22, 2013
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013
Tip-off: 7:00 p.m.
Arena: Kathleen and Tom Elam Center (5,000)
Radio: KTGR 100.5 FM, 103.1 FM and 1580 AM
Live Scoring:
Live Video: OVC Digital Network
Coaches:
MU: Robin Pingeton (St. Ambrose `90) 47-51 at MU (fourth season)
UTM: Kevin McMillan (Rhodes `89) 77-55 at UTM (fifth season)
TIGERS TRAVEL TO TENNESSEE-MARTIN
Missouri will hit the road to UT-Martin on Saturday before returning to Columbia to host UMKC on Tuesday, Nov. 26.Missouri leads the all-time series 3-0 with UT Martin, and the two teams met in Mizzou Arena last season. The Tigers pulled out an 82-71 win over the Skyhawks. This will be Mizzou's first trip to Martin, Tenn.
SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
With a 3-1 record this season, UT Martin will see the Tigers after a 75-66 victory over Arkansas State. The team's only loss came to Gonzaga in the preseason WNIT, a 91-54 deficit. The Skyhawks return their two top scorers from last season in Jasmine Newsome and Heather Butler, both who averaged over 22 points per game last year.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will be back at home Tuesday, Nov. 26. The Tigers will Take on Hunger when the team hosts UMKC, offering free admission with the donation of two canned food items to benefit Tiger Pantry. Mizzou will also welcome Special Olympics athletes, who will scrimmage on the court at halftime.
QUICK HITS
• This season the Tigers are averaging 5.8 blocks per game, third-best in the SEC. In fact, Mizzou had just eight blocks through its first three games last season and has 23 through four games this year. Mizzou averaged just 2.3 blocks per game a year ago.
• Two categories that Mizzou was very good in a year ago, it is dominating in again this season. The Tigers lead the SEC in defensive rebounding at 33.2 per game and are also third in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.3. Freshman Jordan Frericks is doing her part to contribute to the defensive-minded team as she averages 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, good for second in the league.
• It doesn't stop there for Frericks, she leads the team with 13 steals on the season which comes out to an average of 3.3 per game. The number is tied for second overall in the league, but leads all SEC freshmen, tied with Arkansas' Kelsey Brooks. Should she continue to average 3.3 steals per game this season she will be on track finish third all-time on Missouri's single-season steals list behind Amanda Lassiter (98) and Carla Yancey (97).
• Coming into the season, it was well-known that Mizzou could burn its opponents from distance and so far this season, the Tigers have not disappointed. Mizzou averages seven three-point makes per game, good for fourth in the league. Remarkably, Morgan Eye, who led the nation in 3-point makes a year ago, has just four as a variety of other Tigers have stepped up. In fact, sophomore Morgan Stock leads the Tigers with nine 3-pointers, connecting on nearly 35-percent of her shots from distance. Stock leads sophomore in the league, and comes in fourth overall, averaging 3.0 makes from distance per game this season.
• Mizzou has done a good job of wearing down its opponents this season. In fact, the Tigers are outscoring their opponents by 13.3 points in the second half of games this season.
• The Tigers are showing some depth this season, and that was put on display against SIUE as 31 of Mizzou's 59 points and 43 of Missouri's 73 points against Evansville came from off the bench. So far this season, the Tiger bench is accounting for 41-percent of the team's scoring. More importantly, Mizzou is outscoring opponents off the bench 28-12.
• A stat that speaks even more about the Tigers' depth and balance in scoring is the fact that three players have scored 15 or more points this season in different games as the scoring has been spread around. Freshman Kayla McDowell led Mizzou with 19 points in the season-opener against SLU while Bri Kulas has led Mizzou in each of the last three games, scoring 16 points against SIUE and Evansville and 27 against SEMO. Morgan Stock has scored 15 in two games as well.
• Head Coach Robin Pingeton is just three wins away from her 50th victory at MU. She holds a 47-51 record during her time with the Tigers. The Tigers' victory over SIUE marks women's basketball's 90th victory in Mizzou Arena.
• The Tigers are playing unselfish basketball this season, as the team has assisted on 65-of-94 field goals (69%). Sophomore point guard Lianna Doty leads the team with 26 assists on the season and she boasts a 2.4 assist-turnover ratio.
• Mizzou has taken advantage of the free throw line this season, the Tigers lead the SEC shooting 78.1-percent (57-of-73) from the charity stripe. Four Tigers are perfect from the line including freshman Kayla McDowell who is 9-for-9 on the season.