| Match | Location | Day/Time (CT) | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs. Mississippi State | Columbia, Mo. | Sunday // 2:00 p.m. | SEC Network + |
Game 15: Mizzou vs. No. 17 Mississippi State
Sunday, Jan. 4
Tip-off: 2:00 p.m. CT
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Radio: KTGR 100.5 FM, 103.1 FM and 1580 AM
Live Video: SEC Network +
Live Scoring: Mizzou.Statbroadcast.com
Sunday's Promotions:
Mizzou welcomes Mississippi State in its SEC Home Opener on Sunday, Jan. 4 in a 2 p.m. contest. Sunday will be another Family Funday, featuring pregame activities on the concourse including a bounce house.
Kids 12 and under receive FREE admission to Sunday's game.
Last Time vs. Mississippi State
The Tigers and the Bulldogs last met at the SEC tournament last season, senior Bri Kulas led the Tigers with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, however it wasn't enough to put the Tigers on top of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Tigers fell 73-70 to MSU in a hard-fought contest to drop to 17-13 on the season. Mississippi State last came to Mizzou Arena in February of the 2012-13 season. Despite dropping to the Bulldogs, Morgan broke the previous school record for threes in a season. Eye's tally for the year was then up to 92, breaking the previously-held record of 90 that was set by Alyssa Hollins in the 2007-08 season
Scouting the Bulldogs
The undefeated Bulldogs come to Missouri off of a win over Georgia. Mississippi State is 16-0 on the season, led by Victoria Vivians who averages over 15 points per game. Martha Alwal leads the Bulldogs in rebounding, averaging just over nine rebounds each contest. The Bulldogs' SEC-leading scoring average is eighth-highest in the nation. State has eclipsed 80 points in 10 contests.
Quick Hits
• Mizzou's win over Northern Illinois marks the Tigers' 31st consecutive non-conference win inside Mizzou Arena. The streak dates back to Mizzou's win over UT Martin on Dec. 7, 2010. The Tigers have won nine straight games in the Arena, dating back to Mizzou's win over Ole Miss on Feb. 27 last season.
• Last time out, Mizzou limited Tennessee to 31.3-percent shooting, the second-lowest clip of the season for the No. 8-ranked Lady Vols. The Lady Vols came into the game shooting 42-percent as a team. It was also the best FG percentage defense that the Tigers have had against an SEC opponent since Jan. 30 of last season against Vanderbilt when they limited the `Dores to 22.2-percent shooting. That was a span of nine SEC games. It was the third-best defensive performance of the season for Mizzou (29.2 vs. WIU and 30.2 at Wake Forest).
• Looking deeper into the opponent shooting numbers, in 14 games this season the Tigers have allowed just two teams to shoot better than 40-percent in a game. In fact, the Tigers have limited opponents to less than 37-percent shooting in 11 of 14 games, winning 10 of those 11 contests. Mizzou has not allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40-percent in seven consecutive games with the high-water mark in that span coming from UT Martin, which shot 37.-percent.
• Mizzou has been getting it done with defense so far this season. In fact, in nine of the Tigers' 13 games this season, they have held their opponents to 60 or fewer points. Of course, Mizzou has won all eight of those nine contests. Mizzou held its opponents to 60 or fewer points just 11 times last season. In fact, Mizzou has won 17 of its last 20 games when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points (dating back to the start of last season).
• The Injury Bug has certainly hit Mizzou this year as the Tigers have seen several players suffer season ending injuries this season. Because of those injuries, Mizzou's production has been cut by a possible 20.8 points and 14.3 points per game. Sophomore Lianna Doty suffered an injury to her Lisfranc Lligament prior to the season, junior Michelle Hudyn was out for several games from a stress reaction, freshman Carrie Shephard also suffered from a stress reaction in addition to several stress fractures in her leg. Sophomore Kayla McDowell and Freshman Bri Porter will sit out for the season due to ACL tears.
• A big reason why Mizzou's defense has been so stingy is the fact that they are limiting opponents to 34-percent shooting this season, the fourth-best mark in the SEC.
• Jordan Frericks sits at No. 38 in the nation for her rebounding numbers so far this season. Not only that, but the Tigers are outrebounding opponents by 8.4 rebounds per game, good for 34th in the nation.
•Mizzou's bench is doing work this season as it is averaging 25.7 points per game, 40-percent of the team's total offensive output this season. Mizzou's bench is outscoring opponents, by more than 10 points so far this season. Sierra Michaelis (9.8) and Maddie Stock (5.5) are leading the Tigers off the pine this season.
• Mizzou is leading a balanced scoring attack this season; four Tigers are averaging eight or more points through 14 games, while three more are averaging more than five points per game.
• Mizzou Arena is truly a difficult place for the Tiger opponents this season. Mizzou is outscoring opponents by more than 18 points on their home turf. The Tigers are holding opponents to just over 31-percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers per game on Norm Stewart Court.
Tigers Set the Limits
Looking deeper into the defensive numbers, the Tigers have done a nice job of limiting their opponents to below their season averages over the last seven games. In fact, the last seven Tiger opponents have all scored below their season average and have averaged a combined 11.4 points per game below their season average. Below is a look.
o SLU was averaging 68.1 ppg before Mizzou limited it to 50 points on Dec. 8
o Colorado was averaging 79.6 ppg before Mizzou limited it to 50 points on Dec. 12
o NIU was averaging 53.2 ppg before Mizzou limited it to 44 on Dec. 14
o Wake Forest was averaging 70.4 before Mizzou limited it to 64 on Dec. 20
o UT Martin was averaging 66.9 before scoring just 65 against Mizzou on Dec. 22.
o Missouri State was averaging 58.6 before scoring just 57 against Mizzou on Dec. 30
o Tennessee was averaging 75.4 before scoring just 63 against Mizzou last time out.