No. 22 @MizzouWBB Welcomes Texas State to Mizzou Arena on Monday

Monday, December 17

Columbia, Mo.

7:00 P.M. CT

University of Missouri

Texas State

South Dakota Coyotes vs. No. 22 Mizzou Tigers at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Zach Bland/Mizzou Athletics

No. 22 @MizzouWBB Welcomes Texas State to Mizzou Arena on Monday

12/16/2018 8:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

TIgers and Bobcats Tip at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network +

No. 22 Mizzou vs. Texas State
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	LIVE STREAM	LISTEN	STATS	Game Notes
Texas State	Mizzou Arena	Monday, Dec. 17	7:00 PM	SEC Network +	KTGR	Stats	Notes

The Matchup

Mizzou Women's Basketball will host Texas State on the back end of a two-game homestand Monday, as the Tigers and Bobcats are set to tip at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network +. It will be the second game in three days for Mizzou, who fell to South Dakota, the top-ranked mid-major team in the nation by ESPN, 74-61, on Saturday. A radio broadcast of the game will be available on KTGR with Brad Tregnago and Kathy Wiesen on the call. Mizzou has won each of the past two matchups with Texas State, with the most recent meeting coming on Dec. 21, 2015 where Mizzou recorded a 82-56 victory.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

Junior guard Amber Smith has become a double-double machine this season, as she has turned in six double-doubles in 11 games after only recording two in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Among conference and national ranks, Smith's six double-doubles rank second in the SEC and tied-for-11th in the NCAA. Smith has been especially hot in Mizzou's last six contests, as she is averaging 16.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game with four double-doubles. Smith turned in a career performance on the road against West Virginia on Dec. 2, as Smith set career-highs in points and rebounds with 28 and 13, respectively. On the season, Smith is averaging 14.5 points per game and leads the team in rebounds per game (8.1), blocks (15) and steals (13). Smith's rebounds per game ranks ninth in the SEC, while her points per game ranks 14th.
Smith had her third consecutive double-double and sixth of the season in Mizzou's 72-64 road win over Saint Louis on Dec. 9. The Tiger junior scored 15 points and matched a career-high with 13 rebounds.
The Tiger junior posted her fifth double-double of the season and her third in four games in a 66-59 win over UMKC on Dec. 6. Smith had 19 points and 8-for-15 shooting from the field while corraling 10 rebounds.
Smith posted career highs in points (28) and rebounds (13) in Mizzou's road win over West Virginia (Dec. 2). The 28-point performance was Smith's fifth 20-point game of her career, as she shot 10-for-15 from the field, 4-for-6 from three and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. With the win, Mizzou improved to 19-3 all-time in games in which Smith scores in double figures.
The Tiger junior had 17 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth career double-double in a win over Quinnipiac (Nov. 24). Smith scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half.
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 11 games, Smith has also recorded 15 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 48 career blocks ranks second among all Mizzou players, and ranks ninth in the SEC among active leaders.
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.

CUNNINGHAM HEATING UP

Mizzou leading scorer for each of the last three seasons - senior guard Sophie Cunningham - is beginning to heat up as she is averaging 20.3 points per game over her last three contests. After an abnormal stretch of being held to single-digit scoring figures in four of six games, Cunningham has scored 24, 18 and 19, respectively, in her last three outings. Getting to the free throw line has been key in Cunningham's recent scoring byrst, as she has shot 17-for-19 from the charity stripe in Mizzou's last three games, including a 6-for-6 performance against UMKC (Dec. 6). On the season, Cunningham is averaging 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, marks which rank 10th and 18th, respectively, in the SEC.

#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 (1,736 points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (172), No. 5 in PPG (16.5), No. 4 in free throws made (426), No. 5 in three-point percentage (.392), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.827), No. 9 in field goal percentage (.500), No. 8 in assists (321) and No. 9 in career field goals made (569).
With 1,736 career points, Cunningham is the active career scoring leader in the SEC. She holds a slim lead on Florida's Funda Nakkasoglu by 16 points (1,720 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 (566) and seventh in career assists (321). Cunningham's career 82.7 percent success rate from the free throw line ranks ninth among active NCAA D-I players.
Cunningham will need to score 391 points and connect on 56 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	1,736
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.

LETHAL FROM THREE

Mizzou has begun to heat up from deep lately, as the Tigers have made seven or more three-pointers in six of its last seven contests. As a team, Mizzou ranks tied-for-first in the SEC in three-pointers made per game, as the Tigers average 8.2 threes per game (90 total).
The Tigers drained 12 triples and shot 33.3 percent (12-for-36) from beyond the arc against South Dakota (Dec. 15). Senior guard Sophie Cunningham and redshirt senior guard Lauren Aldridge led the way with four and three, respectively.
Mizzou sank 11 threes and shot 39.3 percent from deep in a 68-51 road win over West Virginia (Dec. 2). Junior guard Amber Smith led the way with four triples, while redshirt freshman guard Haley Troup and junior guard Jordan Chavis each drained 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. 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.
Two Tigers are shooting better than 40 percent from deep on the season, led by Aldridge at 42.6 percent (20-for-47) and Schuchts at 40.0 percent (12-for-30).

STIFLING DEFENSE

A trademark of head coach Robin Pingeton-led team's, Mizzou has been suffocating on the defensive end this season, as it has held its opponents to 54.8 points in its eight victories. Mizzou has held its opponent to 65 points or less in nine of 11 games this season.
Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in field goal percentage defense at 35.4 percent, and ranks seventh in scoring defense at 58.0 points per game. The Tigers have forced 10 or more turnovers in eight of 11 games this season, and have forced their opponents to 40 percent or under from the field in eight games.
In Mizzou's 68-51 road win over No. 21 West Virginia, Mizzou's defense held the Mountaineers to 34.8 points below its season average as the Mountaineers scored 51 points on Sunday. West Virginia entered the game averaging 85.8 points. The Tigers were also able to hold West Virginia to season lows in field goal percentage (27.9 percent), three-point percentage (27.8 percent), field goals (17) and three-pointers (five). Junior guard Amber Smith, redshirt junior forward Hannah Schuchts and redshirt freshman guard Haley Troup all set career highs in rebounds with 13, nine and six, respectively, as Mizzou outrebounded West Virginia, 42-34. Smith also contributed a team-high three blocks in the game.
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 SIUE, 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 PURSUIT OF WIN NO. 500

Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton will be chasing down a major coaching milestone this season, as she currently stands 10 wins away from 500 career victories (490-268, .646). Earlier this season, Pingeton registered win No. 150 as Mizzou's head coach in a 59-36 win over SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 19. In her ninth season, Pingeton ranks second in winning percentage (.584) in program history, trailing only coach Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). Among active coaches, Pingeton's 490 career wins ranks second in the Souteastern Conference behind only Texas A&M's Gary Blair (773 wins) and 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.
In 2017-18, Pingeton led Mizzou to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season for the first time since 1984-86. Mizzou earned a No. 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, its highest seed in a 64-team tournament in program history and its highest seed overall since grabbing a 4-seed in the 32 team 1984 NCAA Tournament.
Pingeton steered Mizzou to 24 wins for the first time since 1983-84. That marked the fifth-most wins in a campaign in program history. The Tigers now have at least 22 wins in three straight seasons under Pingeton for the first time since 1982-85.
With Pingeton at the helm, Mizzou is one of just 15 Power 5 programs with at least 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the last three seasons.
In 2017-18, Mizzou spent the entire campaign ranked in the Top 25, climbing as high as No. 11 in the AP Poll, their highest ranking since 1984, and No. 9 in the Coaches' Poll, their highest ranking in that poll in program history.
In SEC play, Pingeton's squad racked up 11 victories, giving them at least 11 wins in league play in back to back seasons for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85.

PINGETON RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION

On Nov. 21, Mizzou Athletics extended the contract of Head Women's Basketball Coach Robin Pingeton four years, ensuring she will be on the Mizzou sideline through the 2024-25 season. In her ninth season, Pingeton has built Mizzou into a consistent Top-25 team program, leading the Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1984-86.
"It has been exciting to watch Robin and her staff restore Mizzou's proud women's basketball tradition while making a positive impact in the lives of our student-athletes, and a difference within the Columbia community," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. "She is a leader of impeccable integrity, who has re-built this program from the ground up, and I believe this new contract demonstrates Mizzou's commitment to Robin and rewards her for the success she has enjoyed over the last eight seasons. Robin is a tremendous fit at Mizzou, and I look forward to watching her program continue to graduate its student-athletes at a high level while competing for championships."
"I am extremely grateful, and appreciative to the University of Missouri for their faith and commitment to myself and my staff," said Pingeton. "It is an honor to be associated with a great university and community. My family and I are so thankful to have the opportunity to work with great leaders, administrators and student-athletes. I am looking forward to continuing to grow this program and pursuing excellence both on and off the court."
In her time at Mizzou, Pingeton has coached two All-Americans, 12 all-conference players and two conference freshmen of the year. She was named the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year following the 2016-17 season and was a top-10 finalist for both the Naismith National Coach of the Year award and the WBCA National Coach of the Year award after an outstanding 2017-18 campaign.

LAWYER LAUREN

Senior guard Lauren Aldridge is helping lead the Mizzou 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 370 career assists, Aldridge is the team leader in career assists, ranks third among active SEC leaders and 28th among active NCAA D-I players. Aldridge recorded 228 assists in her first two seasons at Kansas.
Through 11 games in 2018-19, Aldridge's three-point percentage as made significant leaps, as she is currently shooting 42.6 percent (20-for-47) 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.