Mizzou Women's Basketball senior guard Lauren Aldridge (Marshfield, Mo.) is impressive as a Tiger on and off the court. But, her career as a Tiger is soon coming to an end.
While currently pursuing a law degree at Mizzou, Aldridge is also leading the Tigers this season as the team's starting point guard, no easy feat for a busy college student.
Although a Tiger at heart, Aldridge's collegiate career did not start at Mizzou. In fact, she began playing for the Mizzou's archrival, the Kansas Jayhawks out of high school.
Aldridge experienced two successful seasons as a Jayhawk. During her freshman campaign, she started all 31 game and led the team with five assists per game, while earning a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman team. In her sophomore season, Aldridge led the Jayhawks with an average of 11.1 points, 2.4 assists and 35.3 minutes per game.
After the season, Aldridge decided to leave Kansas and join the Tigers.
NCAA transfer rules forced Aldridge to sit out during the 2016-2017 campaign and as a junior, Aldridge came roaring back, as she started all 32 games, and dished out a team-best 113 assists.
During that season, Mizzou soared to new heights as they defeated No. 4-ranked South Carolina and No. 11-ranked Tennessee in front of the Tiger faithful home crowd. One of Aldridge's fondest memories of the season, however, came away from Mizzou Arena.
"My favorite memory at Mizzou was playing South Carolina at their place last year," Aldridge said. "We didn't win, but our team faced so much adversity and we stuck together through it all. It was just a really cool and powerful moment for us that we were able to learn and grow from."
This season, Aldridge has been the solid rock that Mizzou has needed, as she has once again started every game for the Tigers, and recently recorded her 1,000th career point against Auburn. Although Aldridge's time at Mizzou is coming to an end, she hopes to leave a lasting impact on the future of the program.
"I think the biggest thing for this program is staying true to our core values," Aldridge said. "That's one thing as I leave this program, if I can leave a legacy of continuing to drill in culture and what it means to these girls and to this program, then I'll feel like I've done my job."
Upon graduation, Aldridge has plans to enter the law field as she has accepted an internship with the Green County prosecuting attorney's office in the fall.
After the internship, Aldridge has her eyes wide open for jobs, but hopes to be involved with sports in some way.
"I still want to be involved in sports somehow, whatever way I can intertwine sports with law and find my niche," Aldridge said. "Hopefully basketball will be a part of that, whether that's working for a university or a professional team."
"My dream would be to work for a professional sports team within their general counsel's office," Aldridge said. "I would love to be somewhere warm near the beach. So hopefully pursuing my career and maybe starting a family. And of course, catching up with my Mizzou teammates every now and then."
Aldridge will carry many lessons with her into the future, specifically the ones which have centered around the culture created by Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton.
"I've learned two things," Aldridge said. "One, to be able to lead, you have to be able to love. You have to love people unconditionally as a leader. Also, really taking on our five core values of: love unconditionally, serve intentionally, live gratefully, pursue excellence and fall in love with the process."
Mizzou will honor its three seniors in the Class of 2019 - Cierra Porter, Lauren Aldridge and Sophie Cunningham - on Sunday, March 3 when the Tigers host Alabama. Tipoff from Mizzou Arena is slated for 2 p.m. CT, the the Senior Day festivities beginning at 1:40 p.m. CT.