@MizzouWBB Heads to West Virginia for SEC/Big 12 Challenge

Sunday, December 2

Morgantown, W. Va.

4:00 P.M. CT

University of Missouri

West Virginia

Green Bay Phoenix vs. Mizzou Tigers at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. Cassie Florido/Mizzou Athletics

@MizzouWBB Heads to West Virginia for SEC/Big 12 Challenge

11/30/2018 4:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Mizzou and West Virginia to Tip at 4 p.m. CT on Sunday

Mizzou vs. No. 21 West Virginia
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	LIVE STREAM	LISTEN	STATS	Game Notes
No. 21 West Virginia	Morgantown, W. Va.	Sunday, Dec. 2	4:00 PM	WVUSports.com	KTGR	Stats	Notes

The Matchup

Mizzou Women's Basketball heads to Morgantown, W.Va., for a matchup with No. 21 West Virginia on Sunday, Dec. 2. The game will be one of 10 games competed in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Mizzou is coming off a 2-1 performance and fifth-place finish at the Gulf Coast Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla., where Mizzou defeated Quinnipiac, 65-51, on Nov. 24 and Duke, 62-54, on Nov. 25. Senior guard Sophie Cunningham (26 points, 10 rebounds) and junior guard Amber Smith (17 points, 10 rebounds) each turned in double-double performances in Mizzou's win over Quinnipiac, while junior forward Hannah Schuchts scored a career high 25 points to lead Mizzou to victory over Duke. Sunday's tipoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. (CT), with a live stream broadcast available through wvusports.com/live. A radio broadcast of the game will be available on KTGR with Brad Tregnago and Kathy Wiesen on the call. This will be the second meeting between Mizzou and West Virginia, with the Mountaineers taking the only other contest, 85-75, on Dec. 23, 1996 at the Paradise Classic in Manoa, Hawai'i.

TIN PURSUIT OF WIN NO. 500

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 13 wins away from 500 career victories (487-267, .646). In her ninth season, Pingeton ranks second in winning percentage (.580) in program history, trailing only coach Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). Among active coaches, Pingeton's 487 career wins ranks second in the Souteastern Conference behind only Texas A&M's Gary Blair (769 wins) and T-33rd 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.

SCHUCHTS' CAREER NIGHT

Redshirt junior forward Hannah Schuchts turned in a performance for the record book in Mizzou's win over Duke (Nov. 25), as she scored a career-high 25 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the field and 6-for-6 shooting from beyond the three-point arc. Her six three-pointers set a Mizzou single game record for most threes made without a miss, surpassing the previous record of 5-for-5, which was set numerous times, most recently by Lindsey Cunningham against Arkansas on Feb. 12, 2017. Dating back to the Quinnipiac game (Nov. 24), Schuchts has made seven consecutive three-pointers, the most since junior guard Jordan Chavis made nine straight in a four-game stretch between Nov. 22-29, 2016. Chavis made 4-for-4 from three in the second half against Indiana State (Nov. 22, 2016), then did not shoot a three vs. Creighton (Nov. 26, 2016), then went 3-for-3 vs. Georgia Tech (Nov. 26, 2016) and finally made her first two against Western Illinois (Nov. 29, 2016).
Schuchts finished with 25 points in the game, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and 6-for-6 from three, all career highs.
The Tiger junior leads the team in shooting from deep, as she has sank 52.4 percent (11-for-21) from three. Her 7.4 points per game is a significant jump from her production of 1.9 points per game as a freshman in 2016-17 and 2.4 points per game in 2017-18.

#S3NIORSOPH

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 (Nov. 7), the Naismith Trophy Award Preseason Watch List (Nov. 12), and WBCA Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Watch List (Oct. 24). 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. 5 in all-time scoring (1,671points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (164), No. 5 in PPG (16.5), No. 4 in free throws made (409), No. 5 in three-point percentage (.391), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.825) and No. 8 in field goal percentage (.502) and No. 9 in assists (306).
With 1,671 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 1,416 points. Her career-point total ranks 19th among active players in the NCAA D-I. Among SEC career active leaders, Cunningham also ranks fifth in career rebounds (543) and seventh in career assists (306). Cunningham's career 82.5 percent success rate from the free throw line ranks 10th among active NCAA D-I players.
Cunningham will need to score 456 points and connect on 73 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. Sophie Cunningham	2015-19	1,671
6. Nancy Rutter	1974-78	1,641
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

HISTORY AGAINST OLD RIVALS

Since departing the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference following the 2011-12 season, Mizzou has posted a record of 3-1 against Big 12 opponents.
Mizzou has faced Kansas State twice since leaving the Big 12, earning wins against the Wildcats in the WNIT second round on March 22, 2015 (67-48) and last season in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Nov. 19, 2017 (73-59).
In a Preseason WNIT tilt to open the 2016-17 season, Mizzou defeated Nebraska, 55-35, on Nov. 14, 2016.
Mizzou's only loss to a Big 12 opponent came to Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, as Mizzou fell, 73-55, to the No. 7-ranked Longhorns.
This will be the second-ever meeting between Mizzou and West Virginia, with the only other contest coming on Dec. 23, 1996 where the Mountaineers won 85-75, at the Paradise Classic in Manoa, Hawai'i.

LETHAL FROM THREE

Mizzou's three-point shooting led the Tigers to its win over Duke (Nov. 25) in the consolation finals of the Gulf Coast Showcase, as Mizzou made a season-high 16 three-pointers, surpassing its previous high of 10 threes against Michigan (Nov. 23).
Mizzou's 16 triples were the most made in a game as a team since Dec. 20, 2015 when Mizzou also made 16 against Lamar. Five Tigers made threes against Duke, led by junior forward Hannah Schuchts with six. Senior guard Lauren Aldridge drained four triples, while senior guard Sophie Cunningham, junior guard Amber Smith and redshirt freshman guard Haley Troup each made two.
As a team, Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in three-pointers made, as the Tigers have sank 55 threes through seven games (7.9 threes per game).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE DUO

Senior guard Sophie Cunningham and junior guard Amber Smith led Mizzou to victory over Quinnipiac on Nov. 23, as each recorded a double-double, becoming the first Tiger duo to record double-doubles in the same game since Cunningham and Cierra Porter did so against Saint Louis on Dec. 8, 2017. Cunningham scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds in that game, while Porter had 23 points and 18 rebounds.
Cunningham had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the game to record her 10th career double-double, while Smith had 17 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth career double-double.
Cunningham's 26 points moved her to fifth all-time in Mizzou history as she surpassed Nancy Rutter (1974-78), who scored 1,641 career points. She is also the active career scoring leader in the SEC with 1,671 points
With the win, Mizzou moved to 18-3 all-time in games which Smith scores in double figures.

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 against SIUT, 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).
Mizzou held Qunnipiac (Nov. 24) to a season-low 21.4 percent shooting from the field as the Bobcats were only successful on 15-for-70 shooting from the field.
In seven games this season, Mizzou has held its opponents to 33.2 percent shooting from the field and 56.0 points per game, marks which rank fourth and seventh in the SEC, respectively. The Tigers have held six of its seven 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 their 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 was one just two teams in the SEC to rank in the top three in the league in both categories.

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 6.7 rebounds per game while recording three double-doubles in Mizzou's first seven games.
The Tiger junior had 17 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth career double-double in a win over Quinnipiac. Smith scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half, as Mizzou improved to 18-3 all-time in games in which Smith scores in double figures.
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 seven games, Smith has also recorded nine blocks, including a career-high four against Missouri State (11/16). Smith recorded eight blocks as a freshman in 2016-17 and 25 as a sophomore in 2017-18. Smith's 42 career blocks ranks second behind redshirt junior forward Hannah Schuchts (43) for the most among active Mizzou players.
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.

FRESHMEN 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 360 career assists, Aldridge is the team leader in career assists, ranks second among active SEC leaders and 25th among active NCAA D-I players. Aldridge recorded 228 assists in her first two seasons at Kansas.
Through seven games in 2018-19, Aldridge's three-point percentage as made significant leaps, as she is currently shooting 48.4 percent (15-for-31) from deep. That mark is up from her previous best of 36.6 percent (45-for-123) from deep in 2017-18, and currently ranks fourth in the SEC this season.
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.