No. 21 @MizzouWBB Begins Gulf Coast Showcase with Michigan on Friday
11/22/2018 10:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou will tipoff with Michigan on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT
#21 Mizzou vs. Michigan | |||||||
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OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | LIVE STREAM | LISTEN | STATS | Game Notes |
Michigan | Fort Myers, Fla. | Friday, Nov. 23 | 6:30 PM | Gulfcoastshowcase.com | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
2018 GULF COAST SHOWCASE BRACKET
* - All times listed Eastern
The Matchup
- Mizzou Women's Basketball opens up the Gulfcoast Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday with a matchup against Big Ten foe Michigan. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. (CT), with a live stream broadcast available through gulfcoastshowcase.com. A radio broadcast of each game of the tournament will be available on KTGR with Brad Tregnago and Kathy Wiesen on the call. Mizzou and Michigan have meet once before with the Tigers dropping a 65-55 result in the third round of the WNIT on March 25, 2015. Friday's opening round matchup will be the first on three games in three days for Mizzou in the eight-team tournament. Based on Friday's result, Mizzou will face the winner/loser of No. 9 Texas and Quinnipac on Saturday. Waiting on the opposite side of the bracket is Fordham, Ball State, Duke and Washington.
WIN NO. 150 FOR COACH P
- Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton registered win No. 150 as Mizzou's head coach in a 59-36 win over SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 19. Pingeton will be chasing down another coaching milestone this season, as she currently stands 15 wins away from 500 career victories (485-266, .647). In her ninth season, Pingeton ranks second in winning percentage (.577) in program history, trailing only coach Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). Among active coaches, Pingeton's 485 career wins ranks second in the Souteastern Conference behind only Texas A&M's Gary Blair (766 wins) and 34th overall among D-I head coaches. After an outstanding 2017-18 season, Pingeton was a top-10 finalist for both the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award and the WBCA National Coach of the Year Award.
WATCH LIST SOPH
- Returning two-time AP All-America Honorable mention senior guard Sophie Cunningham has begun the season on watch lists for three of the most prestigous awards in college basketball. First, Cunningham was named to the Preseason Watch List of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year award (Oct. 24). She was one of five finalists for the award last year, and is the only one returning from last year. Next, the Tiger senior was named to the watch list of both the Wooden Award (Nov. 7) and the Naismith Trophy Award (Nov. 12). In addition, Cunningham was also tabbed Preseason All-SEC first team by both the league's coaches and media.
A QUICK GLANCE AT THE FIELD
- BALL STATE: Ball State enters the tournament with a 1-2 record after defeating Cleveland State (11-11, 67-62), but falling to Purdue (11-7, 80-38) and Missouri State (11-17, 74-54). Sophomore forward Oshlynn Brown is the team's leading scorer and rebounder through three games, averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
DUKE: Duke heads to Florida with a 2-1 record after beating Maine (11-15, 66-63) and Elon (11-18, 81-64), but falling to Northwestern (11-11, 84-54) in their season opener. The Blue Devils' field goal percentage of 46.8 percent ranks 35th in the nation this season. Junior forward Leaonna Odom is the team's leading scorer and rebounder after three games, as she is averaging 17.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the field (24-for-39). Senior guard Haley Gorecki is also averaging double figures with 14.3 points per game and leads the team in assists with 5.3 assists per game.
FORDHAM: Fordham opens the Gulf Coast Showcase with a record of 2-2 after beating Wagner (11-9, 80-59) and Charlotte (11-18, 71-64) but falling to Northeastern (11-11, 58-54) and Penn State (11-14, 72-55). Two players are averaging in double figures, as sophomore guard Bre Cavanaugh is averaging 17.3 points per game and senior forward Mary Goulding is averaging 13.0 points per game. Goulding is the team's leading rebounder, as she pulls down 10.0 rebounds per game.
MICHIGAN: Michigan, Mizzou's first round opponent, enters the tournament with a perfect 3-0 mark after defeating Mt. St. Mary's (11-9, 88-40), Western Michigan (11-15, 79-42) and Detroit Mercy (11-19, 95-62). The Wolverines' rebounding margin of +25.3 ranks first in the NCAA this season, while their scoring margin of +39.3 ranks seventh in the NCAA. Senior center Hallie Thome and freshman forward Naz Hillmon lead the Wolverines in scoring, as Thome is averaging 21.3 points per game while Hillmon is averaging 17.3 points per game. The duo also leads the team in rebounding as well, with 7.7 rebounds and 6.0 rebounds per game, respectively. Michigan is receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll.
QUINNIPIAC: Quinnipiac owns a record of 2-1 heading into the tornament with wins over Drexel (11-9, 56-52) and Providence (11-15, 48-44), but falling to Bucknell (11-11, 75-58). Senior forward Jen Fay leads the team in scoring with 16.7 points per game.
TEXAS: Texas, ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll, enters Florida with a record of 3-0 after victories over Duquesne (11-8, 78-41), North Texas (11-12, 64-54) and McNeese (11-15, 96-40). Texas is led by their defense, as their field goal percentage defense of 27.4 percent ranks fifth in the NCAA, while their opponents are only scoing 45.0 points per game, a mark which ranks eighth in the NCAA. Three Longhorns are averaging double figures, led by senior Lashann Higgs with 16.3 points per game. Freshman forward Charli Collier averages 10.7 points per game, while senior forward Jatarie White averages 10.3 points per game.
WASHINGTON: Washington enters the tournament with a record of 2-1 after winning their first two games against Cal State Fullerton (11-8, 83-74) and Northern Arizona (11-11, 81-59) before falling to Tulane (11-18, 63-51). Junior guard Amber Melgoza leads the team in scoring and rebounds with 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
#S3NIOR SOPH
- All eyes will be on senior guard Sophie Cunningham's senior season as she looks to lead Mizzou to a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- A returning two-time AP All-America Honorable Mention selection and two-time First Team All-SEC honoree, Cunningham has named to the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Trophy Award Preseason Watch List, and WBCA Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Watch List. The Cheryl Miller award is an award in its second year, and is given out to the top small forward in the country. Cunningham was a one of five finalists for the award in 2017-18, and is the only returning finalist from a season ago. Cunningham was also named Preseason All-SEC First Team by both the media and coaches.
- Cunningham continues to climb up the Mizzou record book, as she currently ranks No. 6 in all-time scoring (1,628 points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (158), No. 4 in PPG (16.6), No. 4 in free throws made (398), No. 5 in three-point percentage (.396), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.829) and No. 8 in field goal percentage (.507) and No. 9 in assists
- With 1,628 career points, Cunningham is the active points leader in the SEC. She leads the conference by more than 250 points, as the second-leading active scorer, Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan currently has 1,374 points. Her career-point total ranks 19th among active players in the NCAA D-I. Among SEC career active leaders, Cunningham also ranks fourth in assists (299) and fifth in career rebounds (526). Cunningham's career 82.9 percent success rate from the free throw line ranks seventh among active NCAA D-I players.
- Cunningham will need to score 499 points and connect on 84 free throws to become the most prolific player in those categories.
Mizzou Career All-Time Leading Scorers | ||
Player | Seasons | Points |
1. Joni Davis | 1981-85 | 2,126 |
2. Renee Kelly | 1983-87 | 2,119 |
3. Julie Helm | 1996-00 | 1,925 |
4. Sharon Farrah | 1975-79 | 1,820 |
5. Nancy Rutter | 1974-78 | 1,641 |
6. Sophie Cunningham | 2015-19 | 1,628 |
7. Lorraine Ferret | 1979-83 | 1,624 |
8. Evan Unrau | 2000-04 | 1,597 |
9. Erika Martin | 1992-96 | 1,535 |
10. Sandie Prophete | 1985-89 | 1,480 |
- In 2017-18, Cunningham was the only player in the nation to shoot better than 54 percent from the field (54.2 percent, 186-for-343), 45 percent from three (45.7 percent, 69-for 151) and 83 percent from the free throw line (83.6 percent, 133-for-159). Her three-point percentage ranked fourth in the NCAA.
- Cunningham returns for her senior season after earning AP All-America Honorable Mention honors and All-SEC First Team Honors each of the last two seasons (2016-17, 2017-18), as well as being named the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year and earning All-SEC Second Team honors in her freshman campaign (2015-16).
- Cunningham was Mizzou's leading scorer for the third consecutive season in her junior campaign, scoring 18.5 points per game while grabbing 4.7 rebounds per game and recording 93 assists, the second-most on the team. She reached double figures scoring marks in 28 of 31 games she played in, and scored 20+ points 13 times during the season.
ANOTHER 30-POINT PERFORMANCE FROM SOPH
- Senior guard Sophie Cunningham's 31 points in Mizzou's season-opening victory over Western Illinois (Nov. 6) was her eighth career game with 30+ points, and her second consecutive game after scoring 35 points against Florida Gulf Coast in last year's NCAA Tournament game.
- Cunningham's eighth 30-point contest ranks third in Mizzou history, trailing only Renee Kelly's 16 and Joni Davis' 13. Davis is Mizzou's all-time leading scorer with 2,126 points, while Kelly ranks second with 2,119 points.
- Mizzou is an all-time 6-2 in games where Cunningham scores 30+ points.
30+ Points for Cunningham | |||||
Date | Opponent | FG | 3FG | FT | PTS |
11-22-15 | Wake Forest (W, 84-81) | 13-18 | 6-8 | 10-12 | 42 |
1-12-17 | @ LSU (L, 71-80) | 12-17 | 5-7 | 3-3 | 32 |
1-19-17 | Texas A&M (W, 78-76 OT) | 10-19 | 2-5 | 14-15 | 36 |
2-23-17 | Ole Miss (W, 100-65) | 11-13 | 5-7 | 5-5 | 32 |
12-10-17 | SIUE (W, 78-48) | 11-16 | 7-12 | 6-7 | 35 |
2-18-18 | Tennessee (W, 77-73) | 9-14 | 3-6 | 11-12 | 32 |
3-17-18 | vs. Florida Gulf Coast (L, 70-80) | 10-16 | 1-5 | 14-16 | 35 |
11-6-18 | @ Western Illinois (W, 89-64) | 12-20 | 2-6 | 5-6 | 31 |
STIFLING DEFENSE
- Mizzou held SIU Edwardsville to 36 points on Nov. 19, the lowest point total Mizzou has given up since allowing 35 points to Nebraska on Nov. 14, 2016.
- The Tigers held the Cougars to 27.8 percent shooting from the field (15-for-54), the lowest field goal percentage Mizzou has allowed since last season when SIUE shot 25.8 percent (16-for-52) on Dec. 10, 2017.
- Freshman forward Grace Berg recorded a team-high four steals in the game, becoming the first freshman to record four steals in a game since Jordan Chavis did so against Indiana State on Nov. 22, 2016. As a team, Mizzou recorded nine steals in the game, the most since having nine steals against Indiana (Dec. 17, 2017).
- In four games this season, Mizzou has held its opponents to 54.2 points per game and 34.2 percent shooting from the field, marks which rank fifth in the SEC. The Tigers have held each of its four opponents to under 65 points, including the season-low 36 points SIUE scored on Nov. 19.
- Mizzou's strong defense should come as a surprise to no one, as the Tigers held opponents under 60 points 18 times in 2017-18. Mizzou was 16-2 in those contests.
- In 2017-18, The Tigers ranked third in the SEC and 29th nationally in field goal percentage defense (36.3%) and third in the SEC in field goal percentage (45.9%). Mizzou is one just two teams in the SEC to rank in the top three in the league in both categories.
- TOP 25 ONCE AGAIN: Mizzou checked in at No. 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll (Nov. 19), its 26th consectuive appearance in the poll, a streak which ranks 10th in the nation. The Tigers also checked in at No. 18 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll. In 2017-18, Mizzou spent the entire campaign in the Top 25, climbing as high as No. 11 in the AP Poll, its highest ranking since 1984, and No. 9 in the Coaches' Poll, its highest ranking in that poll in program history. Mizzou was 3-4 against teams ranked inside the Top-25 in 2017-18, including a win over No. 4 South Carolina on Jan. 7, 83-74 and a win over No. 11 Tennessee, 77-73, on Feb. 18.
SMITH BECOMING A DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
- With Mizzou losing much of its rebounding contributions from last season, junior guard Amber Smith has stepped up for the Tigers on the glass, leading the way with 7.5 rebounds per game while recording two double-doubles in Mizzou's first four games.
- Smith posted her fourth career game 20-point game and fourth career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds against Green Bay (11/16). Smith got the scoring early, as she scored Mizzou's first nine points of the game, and was successful on a career-high 8-of-10 trips to the free throw line in the game.
- Smith led Mizzou on the glass in Mizzou's season-opening win over Western Illinois (11/6), snagging 12 rebounds while scoring 14 points to record her third career double-double.
- Through four games, Smith has also recorded nine blocks, including a career-high four against Missouri State (11/16). Her 2.3 blocks per game is a significant jump from her average of 0.5 blocks per game through her first two seasons where she recorded eight blocks as a freshman in 2016-17 and 25 as a sophomore in 2017-18. Smith's 42 career blocks is tied with redshirt junior forward Hannah Schuchts for the most among active Mizzou players, and ranks eighth among active SEC leaders, while her 2.3 blocks per game ranks seventh in the SEC this season.
- Smith was named the co-SEC Freshman of the Year in 2016-17 after averaging 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She saw her contributions nearly double last season, as she averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5 percent (113-for-260) from the field, 36.4 percent from three (39-for-107) and 81.0 percent (34-for-42) from the free throw line.
FRESHMAN OFF TO A QUICK START
- Mizzou's current freshman class features three top-70 ranked recruits who will have an instant impact in a Mizzou uniform.
- Forward Grace Berg and guard Akira Levy gave the home Tiger crowd a glimpse of the next four years in their Mizzou Arena debuts, as the duo combined to score 23 points in Mizzou's 65-61 win over Missouri State (11/13). Berg was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the game, and snagged dour rebounds, while Levy had five rebounds and a team-high three assists in the game.
- Berg, from Indianola, Iowa joined the Black & Gold as the No. 36-ranked recruit in espnW's HoopsGurlz Recruiting Rankings and the No. 2-ranked recruit from Iowa. Berg was a three-time Class 5A Iowa Girls Coaches Association First Team All-State Honoree and the all-time leading scorer at Indianola High School. In her senior season, she averaged 20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
- Levy, from Baxter, Tenn., is a dynamic point guard who won three state titles and was the No. 67-ranked recruit in espnW's HoopsGurlz Recruiting Rankings. She was a two-time Tennessee Class AA Miss Basketball, and a 2018 All-USA Tennessee First Team Honoree. She finished her career with 2,761 points, 921 assists, 591 rebounds and 504 steals. In her senior campaign, she averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 assists and 4.8 steals per game.
- Yet to make her Mizzou debut, forward Brittany Garner was a late signee for Mizzou who will add size to the Tigers. The 6-foot-4 big was the No. 69-ranked recruit in Prospect Nation's Class of 2018 Rankings and was a 2018 First Team All-Conference Honoree. In her senior season, she averaged 17.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
LAWYER LAUREN
- Senior guard Lauren Aldridge will help lead the offense once again this season after setting a season-season program record in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2017-18. Aldridge posted an outstanding 2.22 mark (113 assists, 51 turnovers), as she averaged 6.7 points and 3.0 assist per game.
- With 348 career assists, Aldridge is the team leader in career assists and ranks 25th among active NCAA D-I players. Aldridge recorded 228 assists in her first two seasons at Kansas, and her career mark of 348 would rank second in the SEC among active players if they would have all come while playing in the SEC.
- Off the court, Aldridge is in her second year as a law student after graduating with a Political Science degree in May 2017. Aldridge is the one of two players in Division-I NCAA Basketball who is currently in law school, as she is joined by Arizona State's Courtney Ekmark.
HOME SUCCESS
- Mizzou has enjoyed much success at Mizzou Arena over the last four seasons, as they have posted a record of 42-7 overall and 18-6 in SEC play in front of the Black & Gold faithful.
- Some of Mizzou's highest-ranked wins in program history have come at home, including wins over No. 4 South Carolina (83-74, 1-7-18) and No. 11 Tennessee (77-73, 2-18-18) last season. Mizzou's win over the previously NCAA Champion Gamecocks was Mizzou's highest win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 4 Baylor on Jan. 4, 2006.
- Mizzou set a Mizzou Arena home attendance record in its win over the Volunteers, as 11,092 fans showed up to cheer on the Black & Gold.
- Prior to last season, Mizzou also recorded wins over No. 6 South Carolina (62-60, 2-19-18) in 2016-17 and No. 6 Mississippi State (66-54, 1-14-16) in 2015-16.
- Overall, Mizzou is 7-2 overall on its own home floor against ranked opponents since the start of the 2015-16 season, including a 3-0 mark in the 2016-17 season.
Mizzou at Mizzou Arena (2015-18) | |||
Season | Overall | SEC | Ranked Wins |
2015-16 | 13-3 | 5-3 | 1-14 vs. No. 6 Miss. State, 66-64 1-24 vs. No. 22 Florida, 79-64 |
2016-17 | 15-1 | 7-1 | 1-19 vs. No. 25 Texas A&M, 78-76 (OT) 1-30 vs. No. 25 Kentucky, 73-67 2-19 vs. No. 6 South Carolina, 62-60 |
2017-18 | 12-2 | 6-2 | 1-7 vs. No. 4 South Carolina, 83-74 2-19 vs. No. 11 Tennessee, 77-73 |
2018-19 | 2-1 | 0-0 | |
Totals | 42-7 | 18-6 |
BUILDING OFF ANOTHER HISTORICAL CAMPAIGN
- Mizzou reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season in 2017-18, marking the first time since 1984-86 the Tigers have reached the Big Dance. Mizzou was a five-seed in the Tournament, the highest seed Mizzou has been ranked since the tournament moved to 64 teams. Mizzou went 24-8 in 2017-18, its most wins as a program since 1983-84 and its third straight season with 22+ wins (first time with three consecutive seasons with 22+ wins since 1982-85).
PRESEASON ALL-SEC RECOGNITION
- Mizzou was picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mizzou was picked to finish behind Mississippi State, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Each team picked ahead of the Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, with South Carolina making the Elite Eight and Mississippi State ending the season as the national runner-up. Mizzou was also tabbed to finish fifth in the SEC in the preseason media poll.
- Senior guard Sophie Cunningham was named Preseason All-SEC First Team for the third consecutive season. In 2017-18, Cunningham averaged 18.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as she earned AP All-America Honorable Mention honors for the second consecutive season. She was the only player in the nation to shoot better than 54 percent from the field (54.2 percent, 186-for-343), 45 percent from three (45.7 percent, 69-for-151) and 83 percent from the free throw line (83.6 percent, 133-for-159).
- Just like in the preseason media poll, Cunningham was one of three players to receive votes for the Preseason SEC Women's Basketball Player of the Year award, which ended up going to Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan.
- Junior guard Amber Smith, the 2016-17 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year, was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team. Smith started all 32 games for Mizzou as a sophomore in 2017-18, averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Smith scored a career-high 27 points vs. LSU (Jan. 4) on 11-for-18 shooting from the field while grabbing seven rebounds.
A TOP-15 SIGNING CLASS
- Mizzou signed a pair of five-star recruits on Nov. 14, as No. 8 Aijha Blackwell and No. 29 Hayley Frank each inked National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Missouri. Mizzou then added Micah Lintahcum, a 6-foot-3 post player from Jefferson City on Nov. 20. Linthacum is the No. 18-ranked post player by espnW. The trio helped Mizzou bring in the No. 11-ranked recruiting class in the nation according to espnW.
- Blackwell, from Whitfield School in Berkeley, Mo., who was recruited by just about every Division-I program in the country, is ranked No. 8 in the nation and No. 1 in the state of Missouri in espnW's 2019 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. She is a three-time Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Class 3 All-State selection (2016-18), and a USA Today first team Missouri selection in 2018. As a junior, Blackwell led Whitfield to the Class 3A state semifinals and a 22-7 record, as she averaged 24.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Entering her senior season, Blackwell is one of 50 high school seniors named to the watch list for the 2019 Naismith High School Trophy.
- Blackwell was selected to play for the USA U18 National Team this past summer, where she helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in Mexico City at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. She averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over six games during USA's championship run, including eight points, four rebounds and three steals in the gold medal game win over Canada.
- Blackwell's father, Ernest, was a four-year letterwinner for Mizzou Football who played running back from 1994-97 and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998.
- Frank, from Strafford, Mo., is the No. 29-ranked player in the nation and the No. 2-ranked player in the state of Missouri. Coached by her dad, Steve, Frank has helped lead Strafford High School to three consecutive Missouri Class 3 state championships and 82 consecutive wins. She has been named to the MBCA Class 3A All-State team each of the last three seasons (2016-18), the MBCA Class 3 Player of the Year in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the 2017-18 Gatorade Missouri Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the 2018 Missouri Wendy's High Heisman state winner. Entering her senior campaign, Frank has already racked up 2,293 points and 1,213 rebounds.
- As a junior, the 6-foot-2 guard led the Indians to a 33-0 record and third straight state title after averaging 24.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 3.3 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. Frank led Strafford to a second consecutive state title as a sophomore in 2016-17, averaging 24.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.2 blocks per game en route to a 33-0 season. She was named the Class 3 Player of the Year in both seasons.
- Frank is an all-state infielder on the Strafford softball team and a state qualifier for the golf team. Away from the court, Frank has maintained a 4.05 GPA, is the vice president of the student body, and is a part of the National Honor Society.
- A 6-foot-3 post player from Jefferson City High School, Linthacum will add size to the Mizzou women's squad. Linthacum helped lead the Lady Jays to a Class 5 District 7 title as a junior in 2017-18, and is the No. 18-ranked player in the nation at her position, according to espnW.
Players Mentioned
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