| GAME DAY - Thursday, Jan. 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME | MEDIA | |
| Kentucky |
Memorial Coliseum |
Thursday |
6 p.m. CT |
||
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Coming off a 63-45 win over Georgia in its SEC opener, Mizzou Women's Basketball (11-4) hits the road for its first conference game away from home. The Tigers take on No. 24 Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT. The game will air on SEC Network.
OF NOTE
- Mizzou's 63-45 SEC-opening win over Georgia marked the fourth time the Tigers have beaten an SEC team by 18 points or more since joining the league as an official member. Mizzou earned its second victory in an SEC opener since 2012-13.
- This is seventh all-time meeting between Kentucky and Mizzou. Thursday will mark the fourth time in the series that the Wildcats enter the game ranked. Mizzou is looking for its first conference victory over Kentucky since joining the SEC.
- Mizzou's win in the series came on a neutral court during the 2000-01 campaign, when Tiger legend and WNBA draftee Amanda Lassiter notched 19 points and 10 rebounds en route to a 86-51 victory.
- Mizzou knocked off a pair of ranked SEC opponents last season, including wins over No. 22 Florida and No. 6 Mississippi State. Kentucky is the second ranked opponent the Tigers have faced this season along with then-No. 17 Washington.
- Senior guard Sierra Michaelis has made at least four three-pointers in a game five times this season, including a career-high six treys in a win over SIUE. She's one of four players in the SEC to hit at least five triples in a game multiple times this season.
- After making four in her last outing vs. Georgia, Michaelis has now sunk at least four threes in a game 16 times in her career. She's just the third Tiger in program history to do so. Only Morgan Eye (43 times) and Alyssa Hollins (20 times) accomplished that feat more times than Michaelis.
- With 32 trifectas this season, Michaelis has now made 148 triples in her career. She is just the fourth Tiger in program history to make 32 3-pointers in the first 15 games, joining Morgan Eye, Alyssa Hollins & Morgan Stock.
TOUGH DEFENSE
- Mizzou held Georgia to just 45 points in its SEC opener Sunday. The Bulldogs' 45 points were the second fewest Mizzou has allowed in an SEC game since the Tigers joined the league (Arkansas - 41 points - March 1, 2015)
- Mizzou held five opponents under 50 points through the first 15 games of the season. It's the third season the Tigers have done that during the Robin Pingeton-coaching era. The last time Mizzou did so before Pingeton's tenure was back in the 2001-02 season.
- Mizzou (No. 42) is one of five SEC teams ranking in the top 50 in the nation in field goal percentage defense.
- Georgia (30.2 percent) was the sixth opponent that the Tigers have held under 35 percent shooting from the field this season. Mizzou is 6-0 in those contests, winning by an average margin of 16.7 points per game.
- Georgia managed to score just six points in a decisive third quarter on Sunday. Mizzou has now held opponents under 10 points in a single quarter nine times this season.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
- Kentucky dropped to No. 24 in the Associated Press poll after a pair of tough road losses to Duke and Tennessee. Kentucky has been ranked in 141 consecutive polls.
- Kentucky is 8-1 this season at home with the lone loss coming in overtime to No. 19 Arizona State.
- The Wildcats are led by two-time First-Team All-SEC honoree, senior guard Makayla Epps. Epps is averaging 16.8 points and 3.9 assists in a team-high 34.4 minutes per game.
- Senior forward Evelyn Akhator is averaging a double-double with 13.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. She ranks fourth in the SEC in field goal percentage, shooting 58.1 percent (72-of-124) from the floor this season.
LAST TIME OUT
- Mizzou opened Southeastern Conference play and the New Year with an emphatic 63-45 win over Georgia at Mizzou Arena on Sunday. Mizzou improved to 9-0 on its home floor.
- Michaelis led the way for the Tigers, pouring in 20 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3FG), including a 12-point explosion in the third quarter. She also contributed three rebounds and three steals. Sophomore forward Cierra Porter put up her seventh double-double of the year, scoring 20 points (6-12 FG, 8-8 FT) and grabbing 12 rebounds in a strong performance. Mizzou moved to 7-0 on the year when Porter posts at least 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- Fellow sophomore Sophie Cunningham had another solid all-around effort, tallying nine points, nine rebounds and three assists in a high-energy effort.
- Mizzou's defense surrendered just one field goal during the third quarter. The combination of Michaelis' hot hand and tough team defense propelled the Tigers to 51-35 lead heading to the fourth quarter, which Mizzou maintained.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @MizzouWBB.