
@MizzouWBB Welcomes Georgia to Mizzou Arena Thursday
1/16/2019 5:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou and Georgia to tip at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network
Mizzou vs. Georgia | |||||||
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OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | TV | LISTEN | STATS | GAME NOTES |
Georgia | Mizzou Arena | Thursday, Jan. 17 | 6 p.m. | SECN | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
THE MATCHUP
- Mizzou Women's Basketball welcomes Georgia (12-5, 3-1 SEC) to Mizzou Arena for an SEC matchup on Thursday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network with Paul . Mizzou is coming off a 56-54 loss to Florida on Sunday, Jan. 13, which snapped a six-game winning streak for the Tigers. Georgia enters the contest with a 12-5 record and a 3-1 mark in conference play, and is coming off a 66-62 win over No. 13 Tennessee on Sunday. Georgia leads the all-time series between the two schools, 8-4, including winning two matchups last season. Mizzou last defeated Georgia on Jan. 1, 2017 at Mizzou Arena, where the Tigers pulled out a 63-45 victory.
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 15.1 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 15.1 PPG ranks 11th and her 5.9 RPG ranks 18th, while Smith's 13.8 PPG ranks 14th 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 15.9 points per game in her last 10 games which includes six games with 18+ points. Smith has carried much of the rebounding load for Mizzou, as she leads the team in rebounds with 142, 7.9 per game. Smith been a double-double machine in her junior campaign, as she has recorded seven double-doubles in 18 games this season, a mark which ranks second in the SEC and 31st in the NCAA.
NEARING 500
- Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton will be chasing down a major coaching milestone this season, as she currently stands four wins away from 500 career victories (496-269, .648). 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 (.590) in program history, trailing only coach Mizzou Hall of Famer Joann Rutherford (.617, 422-262). Among active coaches, Pingeton's 496 career wins ranks second in the Southeastern Conference behind only Texas A&M's Gary Blair (773 wins) and 32nd 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.
HOT SHOOTING
- Mizzou has shot 40 percent or better from the field in seven straight games, and currently leads the SEC in field goal percentage (51.0 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (46.6 percent) in conference games.
- Mizzou shot 51.9 percent from the field (27-for-52) in its win against Arkansas on Jan. 10, its third game shooting 50 percent or better from the field this season.
- In Mizzou's SEC-opening win over Ole Miss on Jan. 3, the Tigers recorded its best shooting night from the field in over 30 years. MIzzou shot a blistering 65.9 percent (27-for-41) from the field and 60 percent (9-for-15) from the three-point arc in a 78-55 win over the Rebels.
- Junior guard Amber Smith paced the Tigers in the victory, as she scored 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 shooting from three. Three Tigers recorded perfect shooting nights from the field, led by senior guard Sophie Cunningham, who was 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the three-point range. Freshman forward Grace Berg shot 3-for-3 from the field in the game, while senior forward Cierra Porter was 2-for-2.
- Mizzou's shooting performance from the field was its highest field goal percentage recorded since shooting 66.7 percent from the field (44-for-66) against North Texas on Dec. 11, 1987. It also marked the highest field goal percentage mark in league play since Mizzou shot 66.7 percent from the field (34-for-51) against Kansas State on Feb. 5, 1985.
- The Tigers 60 percent success rate from deep (9-for-15) was its best shooting night from three since shooting 61.5 percent (8-for-13) against South Carolina on Jan. 7, 2018.
- Since the 1977-78 season (41 seasons), Mizzou has shot better than 60 percent from the field just 23 times, with four occurrences (17.4 percent) happening under head coach Robin Pingeton.
Mizzou Shooting Better Than 60% From the Field (since 1977-78) | ||||
Date | Opponent | FGM | FGA | Pct. |
1/22/183 | Oklahoma | 50 | 69 | .725 |
3/9/1984 | Oklahoma State | 43 | 64 | .672 |
12/11/1987 | North Texas | 44 | 66 | .667 |
2/5/1985 | Kansas State | 34 | 51 | .667 |
2/1/1984 | Colorado | 47 | 71 | .662 |
1/3/2019 | Ole Miss | 27 | 41 | .659 |
12/30/1997 | Arkansas | 29 | 45 | .644 |
2/7/1987 | Oklahoma | 36 | 56 | .643 |
12/8/2014 | Bradley | 47 | 74 | .635 |
12/2/1996 | SE Missouri | 40 | 64 | .625 |
12/29/1995 | UCF | 38 | 61 | .623 |
3/9/1985 | Oklahoma | 33 | 53 | .623 |
2/25/1989 | Oklahoma | 41 | 66 | .621 |
2/15/1992 | Kansas State | 36 | 58 | .621 |
1/5/1984 | Florida State | 34 | 55 | .618 |
1/14/1984 | Creighton | 40 | 65 | .615 |
1/12/2017 | LSU | 27 | 44 | .614 |
2/17/1990 | Oklahoma State | 28 | 46 | .609 |
2/16/1985 | Oklahoma | 31 | 51 | .608 |
3/5/1985 | Colorado | 32 | 53 | .604 |
1/3/1984 | Indiana | 32 | 53 | .604 |
2/16/1988 | Iowa State | 38 | 63 | .603 |
2/23/2017 | Ole Miss | 30 | 50 | .600 |
CUNNINGHAM HEATING UP
- Mizzou's leading scorer for each of the last three seasons - senior guard Sophie Cunningham - has enjoyed a hot stretch over her last nine games, as she is averaging 15.9 points per game with six games of 18+ points.
- Getting to the free throw line has been key in Cunningham's recent scoring burst, as she has shot 87.5 percent (42-for-48) from the charity stripe in Mizzou's last eight games, including a 16-for-18 performance against Arkansas (Dec. 30). Cunningham's 16 made free throws were the second-most ever by a Tiger, and the most since Kerensa Barr set the school record of 17 against Colorado on Jan. 24, 1987.
- With 20 points, Cunningham recorded her sixth 20-point game of the season, and the 39th of her career against the Lady Volunteers on Jan. 6. The Tiger senior also recorded six rebounds and six assists in the game and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the game.
- Cunningham scored a team-high 24 points in Mizzou's win over UMKC (Dec. 6), and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
- Cunningham recorded her 10th career double-double against South Dakota (Dec. 15), as she scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
- The Tiger senior recorded her 37th and 38th 20-point games against Texas State (Dec. 17) and Arkansas State (Dec. 30) as she scored 20 points in both games.
- Cunningham also recorded six assists against Tennessee, marking her ninth career game of 20+ points and 5+ assists, the most by a Tiger since the 2000-01 season.
20+ Points, 5+ Assists from Cunningham | |||
Date | Opponent | Pts. | Asts. |
11/13/15 | at Missouri State | 23 | 5 |
12/2/16 | Missouri State | 22 | 6 |
2/19/17 | South Carolina | 26 | 5 |
12/22/17 | Illinois | 27 | 5 |
1/7/18 | South Carolina | 27 | 7 |
2/8/18 | Kentucky | 29 | 5 |
2/18/18 | Tennessee | 32 | 5 |
12/30/18 | Arkansas State | 20 | 5 |
1/6/18 | at Tennessee | 20 | 6 |
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.
- Roundtree matched her career-high with 10 points against Arkansas State (Dec. 30), making her fourth career start.
- The Tiger junior has scored eight or more points in five of seven games since being inserted in the starting lineup, and Mizzou is 6-1 over that stretch.
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 385 career assists, Aldridge is the team leader in career assists, ranks fourth among active SEC leaders and 33rd among active NCAA D-I players. Aldridge recorded 228 assists in her first two seasons at Kansas.
- Through 18 games in 2018-19, Aldridge's three-point percentage as made significant leaps, as she is currently shooting 42.7 percent (32-for-75) from deep. That mark is up from her previous best of 36.6 percent (45-for-123) from deep in 2017-18.
- 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.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
- Junior guard Amber Smith has become a double-double machine this season, as she has turned in seven double-doubles in 18 games after only recording two in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Among conference and national ranks, Smith's seven double-doubles rank tied-for-second in the SEC and tied-for-31st in the NCAA.
- On the season, Smith is averaging 13.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounds per game (7.9) and blocks (21). Smith's rebounds per game ranks ninth in the SEC, while her points per game ranks 14th.
- Smith posted her seventh double-double of the season against Arkansas (Jan. 10), as she scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
- 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.
- 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 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 18 games, Smith has also recorded 21 blocks, including a career-high five in Mizzou's win against Arkansas State (Dec. 30). Smith recorded eight blocks as a freshman in 2016-17 and 25 as a sophomore in 2017-18. Smith's 54 career blocks ranks tied-for-first among all Mizzou players, and ranks ninth in the SEC among active leaders.
LETHAL FROM THREE
- Mizzou has been lethal from beyond the three-point arc this season, as the Tigers have made seven or more three-pointers in 12 of 18 contests. As a team, Mizzou ranks second in the SEC in three-pointers made per game, as the Tigers average 7.8 threes per game (141 total).
- Mizzou drained 10 threes in its win over No. 10 Tennessee on Jan. 6, as the Tigers shot 45.5 percent from three (10-for-22). The Tigers' mark from deep was the third-best of the season, as redshirt freshman guard Haley Troup drained four threes, while senior guard Sophie Cunningham and redshirt senior guard Lauren Aldridge each drained three.
- The Tigers drained 12 triples and shot 33.3 percent (12-for-36) from beyond the arc against South Dakota (Dec. 15). Cunningham and 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 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 42.7 percent (32-for-75). Following close behind is Cunningham at 37.6 percent (32-for-85), Schuchts at 35.0 percent (14-for-40), Troup at 35.4 percent (17-for-48) and Smith at 33.3 percent (19-for-57).
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 53.9 points in its 14 victories. Mizzou has held its opponents to 65 points or less in 16 of 18 games this season.
- Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in field goal percentage defense at 35.6 percent, and fifth in scoring defense at 56.3 points per game. The Tigers have forced 10 or more turnovers in 13 of 18 games this season, and have held their opponents to less than 40 percent from the field in 13 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.
Players Mentioned
Mizzou Storytellers - Kellie Harper
Friday, April 04
Inside Mizzou Athletics - Getting to Know Mizzou Women's Hoops
Tuesday, October 15
Highlights: WBB at Alabama
Monday, January 31
WBB Highlights vs. Texas A&M
Monday, January 24