Dec. 20, 2013
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Live Scoring: www.mizzoustats.com
Radio: KTGR 100.5 FM, 103.1 FM and 1580 AM
Live Video: Mizzou Network
MU Head Coach: Robin Pingeton
(St. Ambrose `90) 53-3 at MU (4th season)
WIU Head Coach: JD Gravina
(William Jewell Col. , `00) 31-41 at WIU (3rd season)
TIGERS FACE WESTERN ILLINOIS SUNDAY
Mizzou Women's Basketball will host Western Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 22 in a 2 p.m. contest. The game will serve as Family Funday, with fun activities on the concourse prior to tipoff. Fans 12 and under will receive free admission to the game. Mizzou Women's Basketball will also continue its Toys for Tots drive, admission to the game is free with donation of a new, unwrapped toy.
The Tigers are 7-1 against the Western Illinois Leathernecks in program history, with the last meeting coming just last season. Mizzou hosted WIU on Nov. 15, earning a 70-61 victory.
UP NEXT
Mizzou heads home for the holidays this week and will return to begin conference play in the new year. The Tigers travel to Oxford, Miss. to open conference play and the program will host Arkansas at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5 to open the home conference slate.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks are 5-6 on the season, coming to Mizzou off of a loss to SIUE. The Leathernecks boast three players averaging double-figure scoring numbers including Ashley Luke who averages a double-double with almost 20 points per game and 11 rebounds. Former Tiger Tori Niemann averages 12.6 points per game for the Leathernecks and Michelle Maher is averaging 11.6. Luke has twice been named Summit League Player of the Week this season and recently broke the school record when she made 17-of-17 from the free throw line.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Tigers fell to the Missouri State Bears 67-53 in a tough contest in Springfield, Mo.
• Freshman Sierra Michaelis had a career night as she recorded 14 points and seven rebounds.
QUICK HITS
• As the team, the Tigers aim for 80-percent free-throw shooting during practices and in games. After connecting on 14-of-16 from the charity stripe in its 126-55 win over Bradley last Sunday, Mizzou is now shooting 78.8-percent from the line this season, just under its season goal. That mark leads the SEC and checks in at third nationally. Six players are shooting 70-percent or better and Mizzou's leader in total free throws - Bri Kulas - is arguably the team's top shooter from the line, checking in at 87.7-percent (50-of-57).
• Under fourth-year head coach Robin Pingeton, Mizzou is continuing to play great team basketball. That is evidenced by Mizzou's 18.0 assists per game (third in the SEC and 15th nationally) and its 1.1 assist/turnover ratio, which ranks third in the SEC and 27th nationally.
• This season the Tigers are averaging 5.4 blocks per game, a number that ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the nation. The number is much improved from last season when the Tigers averaged 2.3 blocks per game. Freshman Jordan Frericks is dominating in this category, she leads the team with 28 blocks on the season, good for an average of 2.3 per game (third-best in the SEC).
• The Tiger staff is stressing a defensive mindset this season, and Missouri's numbers are showing it. The Tigers are amongst leaders in the SEC (second) in defensive rebounding at 30.9 per game and lead the league in defensive rebounding percentage at 73.6.
• Mizzou continues to show quality depth off the bench this season as the team is averaging 28.5 points per game off the pine. Three different players average at least 6.0 points per game off the bench this season, led by 8.3 from sophomore Morgan Stock. Mizzou has a +10.3 average per game off the bench this season. Over one-third of the Tigers' scoring comes from off the bench this season.
• The Tigers have shown a great ability to close games this season, averaging 40.4 points per game in the second half. Conversely, Mizzou is limiting its opponents to just 29.8 points per game in the second half. To prove the killer instinct, Mizzou is connecting on just about 81-percent of its shots from the charity stripe in the second half as well.