@MizzouWBB Opens 2018-19 Season at Western Illinois

Tuesday, November 6

Macomb, Ill.

8:00 P.M. CT

University of Missouri

Western Illinois

11/5/2018 10:07:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Mizzou holds a 10-1 advantage over Western Illinois

Mizzou Opens Season at Western Illinois
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	LISTEN	STATS	Game Notes
Western Illinois	Macomb, Ill.	Tuesday, Nov. 6	8 PM	ESPN +	KTGR	Stats	Notes

The Matchup

Mizzou Women's Basketball will open the 2018-19 season with a road game at Western Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Tipoff will be at 8 pm CT from Western Hall in Macomb, Ill., with a live stream available on ESPN + and radio coverage available through KTGR. Mizzou holds a decisive 10-1 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, including a 4-0 mark under head coach Robin Pingeton. Mizzou's lone loss to the Fighting Leathernecks came on the Tigers last visit to Macomb, Dec. 11, 1997, as Mizzou fell 68-66 in overtime.

BUILDING OFF ANOTHER HISTORIC 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).

IN THE POLLS AGAIN TO START '18-19

Mizzou was ranked in the top-25 of both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll to begin the 2018-19 campaign. The Tigers checked in at No. 14 in the Coaches Poll and No. 16 in the AP poll. Mizzou has now been ranked in 24 consecutive AP polls, the 11th-longest streak in the nation. 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.

APPROACHING MILESTONES

Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton will be chasing down coaching milestones in 2018-19, as she currently stands three wins away from 150 wins at Mizzou (147-108, .576) and 18 wins away from 500 career victories (482-265, .645). Entering her ninth season, Pingeton ranks second in winning percentage (.576) in school history, trailing only coach Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). 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.

#S3NIORSOPH

All eyes will be on senior guard Sophie Cunningham's senior season as she continues to climb up the Mizzou record book. She currently ranks No. 8 in all-time scoring (1,563 points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (153), No. 4 in PPG (16.6), No. 5 in free throws made (386), No. 3 in three-point percentage (.404), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.839) and No. 8 in field goal percentage (.508).
Cunningham will need to score 564 points and connect on 96 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. Lorraine Ferret	1979-83	1,624
7. Evan Unrau	2000-04	1,597
8. Sophie Cunningham	2015-18	1,563
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.
Among SEC season leaders, she ranked second in three-point percentage (45.7 percent), fourth in the SEC in points per game (18.5 ppg), fourth in field goal percentage (54.2 percent), fifth in total points scored (574) and fifth in three-pointers (69)
This season, Cunningham was named to the WBCA Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Watch List, an award in its second year 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.

ALL-SEC RECOGNITION

Mizzou was picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mizzou was picked to finish fifth 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). Cunningham will continue to climb up the Mizzou record book in her senior season, as she currently ranks No. 8 in all-time scoring (1,563 points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (153), No. 4 in PPG (16.6), No. 5 in free throws made (386), No. 3 in three-point percentage (.404), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.839) and No. 8 in field goal percentage (.508).
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. She grabbed five rebounds in 15 contests and corralled 10 rebounds in four games.

LAWYER LAUREN

Senior guard Lauren Aldridge will lead the offense once again this season as the point guard 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.
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 only active player in NCAA D-I Women's Basketball to be in law school.

HOME SUCCESS

Mizzou has enjoyed much success at Mizzou Arena over the last three seasons, as they have posted a record of 40-6 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) 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.
In nonconference play, Mizzou has won a remarkable 53 consecutive regular season games at Mizzou Arena dating back to Dec. 3, 2011 against Northwestern (74-70), head coach Robin Pingeton's second 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
Totals	40-6	18-6

LETHAL FROM THREE

Mizzou shot a remarkable 37.2 percent from beyond the arc in 2017-18 (248-of-667), which was just a mere percentage point below a program record from the 1989-90 and 2013-14 teams who shot 37.3 percent from deep.
Mizzou finished the season ranked third in the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage. The Tigers stepped up from deep in conference play, shooting 40.6 percent over their 16 league games, which ranked second in the SEC during conference action.
In 16 conference games, Pingeton's squad averaged a league-high 8.8 made three-pointers per game.
Senior guard Sophie Cunningham finished the season ranked second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 45.7 percent from beyond the arc, and fourth overall in the nation.
Cunningham is flanked by Amber Smith, Jordan Chavis and Lauren Aldridge on the perimeter. Smith, Chavis and Aldridge made a combined 77 triples in conference play. Aldridge's 1.9 three-pointers per game in league play ranked eighth in the SEC.

STIFLING DEFENSE

Mizzou held opponents under 60 points 18 times in 2017-18 and the Tigers were 16-2 in those contests. The team has done so in 17 of the past 27 games. Only nine teams scored more than 59 points against Mizzou after Mizzou's win against Wright State on Nov. 16. The Tigers are the only SEC team that held opponents under 60 points at least 18 times last season. Mizzou held opponents under 60 points just 11 times all of last season.
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.
Mizzou has had a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 27 of its 32 games in 2017-18
The Tigers maintained their strong defense in conference play, holding opponents to 38.5-percent shooting, which ranked second in the league behind Georgia.

A FRESHMAN CLASS READY TO CONTRIBUTE

Mizzou's incoming freshman class features three top-70 ranked recruits who have the potential to contribute right away for Mizzou.
Forward Grace Berg from Indianola, Iowa joins 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.
Guard Akira 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.
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 average 17.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.