The Matchup

• Mizzou Women's Basketball will close the nonconference portion of its schedule on Sunday as the Tigers host Arkansas State at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. Mizzou has won seven of its last eight contests heading into Sunday's matchup with the Red Wolves, including a 67-45 road victory over Illinois in its most recent outing on Dec. 21. Mizzou held the Fighting Illini to 45 points in the game, the second-lowest point-total the Tigers have allowed this season, trailing only the 36 points Mizzou allowed to SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 19. Mizzou has now held its opponents to 65 points or less in 11 or 13 games this season. Mizzou and Arkansas State will meet for the first time since 2006, and the fifth time overall, as the all-time series is currently tied, 2-2. 

1-2 PUNCH

• Mizzou has been led all season by the dynamic duo of senior guard Sophie Cunningham and junior guard Amber Smith. Cunningham leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game, while Smith leads the team in rebounding at 7.9 rebounds per game. Cunningham and Smith are one of just two teammate duos to rank in the top-20 of the SEC in both scoring and rebounding, as Cunningham's 15.5 PPG ranks 12th and her 6.0 RPG ranks 19th, while Smith's 14.6 PPG ranks 13th and her 7.9 RPG ranks ninth. The only other pair of teammates in the SEC to rank in the top-20 of both categories is Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan and Anriel Howard. Cunningham has began to heat up lately, as she averaging 18.0 points per game in her last five games which includes four games with 18+ points. Smith has been a double-double machine in her junior campaign, as she has recorded six double-doubles in 13 games this season, a mark which ranks second in the SEC and 22nd in the NCAA.

CIERRA PORTER RETURNS

• Mizzou received a late gift over the holiday break, as senior forward Cierra Porter decided to return to the basketball court after originally stepping away in the court in June due to knee injuries. Between 2015-18, Porter averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Black & Gold while recording 98 blocks and 68 steals. Porter earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2015-16 after scoring 8.6 points and grabbing 5.4 rebounds per game.
• In a stellar sophomore campaign, Porter averaged 13.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting 81.0 percent from the free throw line (141-for-174). Porter led the team in rebounds (266) and blocks (45).
• Last season, Porter helped Mizzou advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season after averaging 9.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while leading the team with 31 blocks. 
• Her 266 total points in her debut season rank as the tenth-most in school history. Among program records, Porter ranks seventh all-time in free-throw percentage (.793) and career rebounding average (7.0), and ninth in free throws made in a season (141, 2016-17).
• "We are obviously very excited to welcome Cierra back," said head coach Robin Pingeton. "She has had a very successful three years here, she brings great experience, and adds much needed depth to our post position. After allowing her knee to calm down and get some rest with some time away, Cierra started feeling pretty good again and wanted to see if she could make one last run at it."

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

• Junior guard Amber Smith has become a double-double machine this season, as she has turned in six double-doubles in 13 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-22nd in the NCAA.
• Smith has been especially hot in Mizzou's last eight contests, as she is averaging 16.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game with four double-doubles.
• On the season, Smith is averaging 14.6 points per game and leads the team in rebounds per game (7.9) and blocks (16). Smith's rebounds per game ranks 10th in the SEC, while her points per game ranks 13th.
• 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 13 games, Smith has also recorded 16 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 49 career blocks ranks second among all Mizzou players, and ranks 10th in the SEC among active leaders.

CUNNINGHAM HEATING UP

• Mizzou's leading scorer for each of the last three seasons - senior guard Sophie Cunningham - is beginning to heat up, as she is averaging 18.0 points per game over her last five contests, which includes four games of 18+ points. After an abnormal stretch of being held to single-digit scoring figures in four of six games, Cunningham scored 24, 18, 19 and 20, respectively, between Dec. 6 and Dec. 17. Getting to the free throw line has been key in Cunningham's recent scoring byrst, as she has shot 18-for-20 from the charity stripe in Mizzou's last five games, including a 6-for-6 performance against UMKC (Dec. 6). On the season, Cunningham is averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, marks which rank 12th and 19th, respectively, in the SEC.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY

• Junior guard Jordan Roundtree made the most of her first career start against Texas State (12/17), as the Tiger junior responded with career highs in points, steals and minutes.
• Roundtree contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, as she added an instant impact on the dfensive end of the court for the Tigers.
• The increased playing time was a significant jump for the Tiger junior, who hadn't played more than 18 minutes in a game this season prior to Dec. 17. With 10 points, Roundtree's points per game on the season jumped from 1.8 to 2.5 points per game.

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 377 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 13 games in 2018-19, Aldridge's three-point percentage as made significant leaps, as she is currently shooting 43.9 percent (25-for-57) 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 fifth 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.

LETHAL FROM THREE

• Mizzou has began to heat up from deep lately, as the Tigers have made seven or more three-pointers in eight of its last nine contests. As a team, Mizzou ranks second in the SEC in three-pointers made per game, as the Tigers average 8.2 threes per game (107 total). Mizzou's season three-point percentage of 32.4 percent (107-for-330) ranks eighth in the SEC. 
• 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.
• Five Tigers are shooting better than 30 percent from deep on the season, led by Aldridge at 43.9 percent (25-for-57) and Schuchts at 36.4 percent (12-for-33). Following close behind is Cunningham at 34.7 percent (25-for-72), Smith at 34.0 percent (16-for-47) and Troup at 30.3 percent (10-for-33).

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 53.3 points in its nine victories. Mizzou has held its opponents to 65 points or less in 11 of 13 games this season.
• Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in field goal percentage defense at 36.0 percent, and sixth in scoring defense at 56.4 points per game. The Tigers have forced 10 or more turnovers in nine of 13 games this season, and have held their opponents to less than 40 percent from the field in nine games.
• The Tigers held Illinois to 45 points on Dec. 21, the second-lowest point total Mizzou has allowed this season. Mizzou was able to keep the Illini to a smouldering 14.3 percent shooting from the three-point line (2-for-14).
• Mizzou recorded a season-high 11 steals in a 69-50 victory over Texas State on Dec. 17. Senior guard Sophie Cunningham and junior guard Jordan Roundtree led the way with three steals each, while the Tigers held the Bobcats to 37.3 percent shooting from the field and 19.2 percent shooting from three.
• 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 SIUE 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 ON WIN NO. 500

• Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton will be chasing down a major coaching milestone this season, as she currently stands eight wins away from 500 career victories (492-268, .647). 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 (.586) in program history, trailing only coach Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). Among active coaches, Pingeton's 492 career wins ranks second in the Southeastern 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 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.

#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 (1,765 points), No. 4 in career 3-pointers made (175), No. 5 in PPG (16.5), No. 4 in free throws made (427), No. 4 in three-point percentage (.395), No. 3 in free throw percentage (.826), No. 8 in field goal percentage (.501), No. 6 in assists (326) and No. 7 in career field goals made (580).
• With 1,765 career points, Cunningham is the active career scoring leader in the SEC. She holds a slim lead on Florida's Funda Nakkasoglu by 22 points (1,743 points). Her career-point total ranks 17th among active players in the NCAA D-I. Among SEC career active leaders, Cunningham also ranks fifth in career rebounds (574) and seventh in career assists (326). Cunningham's career 82.6 percent success rate from the free throw line ranks 13th among active NCAA D-I players.
• 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.