University of Missouri
13-1, 0-1SEC
Tennessee
10-3, 1-0SEC
#20 @MizzouWBB Drops First Game of Season, Falls 71-55 to #12 Tennessee
1/4/2016 10:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Largest women’s basketball crowd (7,989) in Mizzou Arena history
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 20 Mizzou Women's Basketball (13-1, 0-1) dropped its first game of the season, falling 71-55 to No. 12 Tennessee (10-3, 1-0) on Monday in front of 7,989 fans, the largest women's basketball crowd in Mizzou Arena history and fourth-largest crowd in the 42-year history of the program.
"I want to make sure that we acknowledge the fans tonight. What an incredibly special turnout," head coach Robin Pingeton said. "I can assure you that on behalf of the players we wanted to make them proud. We appreciate everyone coming out."
The Tigers were led in scoring and rebounding by junior forward Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.), who had 11 points and eight rebounds. Frericks has recorded five or more rebounds in 13 of 14 games this season. Junior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.), joined Frericks in double figures with 10 points.
The Lady Vols' suffocating full-court press gave the Tigers fits in the first quarter as Mizzou managed only 11 points in the opening period. Redshirt junior Lianna Doty (St. Louis, Mo.) ignited the made the Mizzou Arena crowd after connecting on a 3-pointer with 3:25 remaining in the second quarter to pull the Tigers within 10 at 30-20. The three was the beginning of a 9-1 run for Mizzou, which helped the Tigers claw back into the game, as the two teams entered halftime with Tennessee up 33-26.
After Tennessee opened the second half on a 9-0 run, the Tigers erase the deficit. Frericks converted a 3-point play after a layup on a rebound off her own missed shot to give the Tigers some energy in the third quarter, but Mizzou could not connect on enough shots to get within striking distance of the Lady Volunteers.
Mizzou shot 33 percent (21-for-64) from the floor and was only 2-for-19 from beyond the 3-point arc. Tennessee shot 41 percent (22-for-54) from the field, drained 5-pointers and made 22 free throws.
The Tigers will return to action with its first SEC road contest of the season Thursday against Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network Plus.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouWBB) and like the team on Facebook (Mizzou Women's Basketball) and Instagram (MizzouWBB).
POSTGAME NOTES
- Monday's crowd of 7,989 was the largest crowd in program history at Mizzou Arena and fourth highest overall in the 42 years of the program. It also marked the largest home crowd since Mizzou joined the SEC.
- Tennessee now leads the all-time series between the two schools, 7-1. The last Mizzou win over Tennessee was 66-62 on Jan. 2, 2015 in Knoxville, Tenn.
- Mizzou entered the game ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the highest ranking for the Tigers since Dec. 30, 1984.
- Monday's contest was Mizzou's first game against a ranked opponent while being ranked since Feb. 8, 1984 when the No. 9 Tigers defeated the No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats, 66-62, at the Hearnes Center.
- Redshirt junior guard Lindsey Cunningham stayed the course with her season assist average (4.5) with 4 assists on the night
- Junior forward Jordan Frericks led Mizzou in rebounding with six boards. Frericks has recorded five or more blocks in 13 of 14 games this season.
- Frericks went 5-of-7 from the free throw line in the game, tying a season-high five made free throws. She also had two blocks in the game and is now one away from her 100th career block.
- Junior guard Sierra Michaelis scored 10 points on the night, the eighth time she has scored in double-digits this season.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton
Opening Statement…
"I really appreciate everyone being here. I want to make sure that we acknowledge the fans tonight. What an incredibly special turnout. I can assure you that on behalf of the players we wanted to make them proud. We appreciate everyone coming out. It was a tough game for us tonight. Tennessee is obviously a very talented team. I thought they came out as the aggressors and threw the first punch. We took it. I felt like we got outplayed in pretty much every phase of the game. I can tell you this though. I believe in my team. I think we'll learn from this and make some adjustments and be better because of this. We talked about this before the game. One game doesn't define this team's season. This is a special group and we're a talented group of young ladies. I know as a coaching staff we're looking forward to tomorrow and rolling up our sleeves and going back to work. In the SEC you don't have a lot of time to hang your hat on anything and feel sorry for yourself. There's always that next opponent in front of you and the SEC is loaded from top to bottom. We'll regroup and move forward and get better because of this."
On what changed offensively in the second half…
"I think the difference was that Tennessee took off their full court press at the end of the first half. That allowed us to run a few more of our sets. I thought we did a decent job of taking care of the ball. We just didn't knock down shots. We had some really good looks at the basket but we didn't convert on them. We had some bad shot selection. I think it will be a teachable moment for our kids. The ball just wasn't falling for us tonight. Obviously we put them at the free throw line far too much in the first half. Right before the first half if we were able to knock down that open three-pointer by Morgan (Stock) then that would've been a huge momentum shot going into the locker room."
On how difficult it is to prepare for a team with high athleticism and team length…
"It's really hard this time of the year. It's actually hard any time. They (Tennessee) got a roster with great players. They've got some tremendous inside players and great perimeter players. They're a legit potential final four caliber team. We definitely have to give them credit on all of this. At this time of the year on Christmas break you don't have your scout team and we heavily rely on them in regards to preparation for the SEC. It's (Tennessee) a completely different style of play that we're used to. It makes it pretty challenging to prepare for. Especially for our new kids. We better learn from tonight and move on and get ready for a tough Georgia team on the road."
On how Tennessee was able to get to the free throw line frequently tonight…
"We surely put them on the line a lot tonight. We were just one step slower than them. You definitely have to give Tennessee some credit for that. They have some explosive and athletic kids out there. Some of it was ticky-tack fouls where we had a lack of discipline. We also had some reach-in fouls that we didn't need to do. Certainly, give credit to Tennessee for going to the rim and being around the basket."
On if she was able to recognize tonight's capacity crowd and energetic environment…
"As you build a program it's important to celebrate those 'mini victories'. You have to try and take a deep breath, exhale and appreciate the growth of your program. It's hard to acknowledge it in the moment. After a game I'll get feedback. Tonight there was a standing ovation after the game and I had no idea. I don't hear much during the game. I'm pretty dialed in. I certainly appreciate everyone coming out and it was a fun environment tonight. We owe our fans one back. It's something we want to continue to build off of."
On if she wants Sophie to be more forceful with the ball on offense…
"I think she will. We need her to. There's a couple times where she got caught hiding in the corner and didn't come out and demand the ball. As she watches film she'll recognize that. I think she'll make that adjustment pretty quickly. Believe me, she wants the ball in her hands. She's just trying to figure it all out. I think tonight at times you saw that aggression come out. She's got a high basketball IQ. She's an awfully talented young lady. I think as we watch film with her and help her understand how to get better in those situations then she'll embrace it."
On what it means to the program to have local Columbia players on the roster…
"I think for us it has been huge. It makes sense when you're trying to build a program and create a fan base. Certainly, you want to make sure you get kids that can play at this level. Sometimes it's really hard to keep those local kids at home because they want that college experience of getting away a bit. We're really blessed that there's a bloodline with the Cunningham's and Porter's. When you're trying to build a program and fan base I think it's pretty darn important."
Junior guard Sierra Michaelis
On how nerves impacted the game...
"I was definitely nervous before the game, but I am nervous before every game. I just kept repeating in my head, its just another game. I wasn't shooting well tonight, and that happens. I definitely need to go back and watch film to learn from it and understand that if I am having an off night, just to get back on defense and try to help my team that way."
On the quality of her shots...
"During the first half, I was definitely taking some forced shots. The second half I thought that we got a lot of good looks. We just didn't knock them down."
Freshman guard Sophie Cunningham
On her first SEC game...
I like the toughness, and I know that next game, we are going to be the ones to throw the first punch. So, yeah it sucks to lose, but we are going to learn from it and it is on to the next one.
On Tennessee's press...
"In nonconference, we didn't have a team that pressed us like that. I thought that we adjusted alright, we could have done a lot better, but we adjusted well and started getting the ball up the floor. We were just shooting too early in the shot clock, and those aren't shots that we usually take. So, we weren't able to really establish our rhythm on offense, but like i said we are going to learn from it, and we will be better because of it."
Junior forward Jordan Frericks
On the physicality of Tennessee...
"A lot of us knew from experience that SEC play is going to be much tougher and a lot more physical. We knew that was what they were going to do. We just took it, instead of being the aggressors in that situation. We are going to learn from this and know that we are going to need to be the ones to throw that first punch next game."
On the excitement the team has built...
"Over the years, since I was a freshman, that is what this program has been about. We want to bring out the fans, we want people to support us, and we want to show them what this team is made of. And that is the hustle plays, it's the effort that we give. We want that to be our mentality and we have done a great job of that now. People are starting to see it and they are coming out. We love that. We had a great crowd, so many great supporters. We still want them to come out because this one game doesn't define us, and our work ethic is going to go way beyond this game."
