
@MizzouWBB Set for Road Matchup at No. 10 Tennessee
1/5/2019 10:58:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou and Tennesse to Tip at 1 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN 2
Mizzou at Tennessee | |||||||
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OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | LIVE STREAM | LISTEN | STATS | GAME NOTES |
Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | Sunday, Jan. 6 | 1 p.m. | ESPN 2 | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
The Matchup
- Mizzou Women's Basketball travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for its next Southeastern Conference contest, as the Tigers play No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday, Jan. 6 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. Mizzou enters the contest at 12-3 and on a four-game winning streak, winning each of its last four games by an average of 21.0 points per game. In Mizzou's SEC opener on Jan. 3, the Tigers shot a season-high 65.9 percent (27-for-41) from the field and a 78-55 win over Ole Miss. Mizzou closed its nonconference slate with 11 wins, marking the eighth straight season Mizzou recorded 10+ wins during nonconference play, dating back to the 2011-12 season. Tennessee enters the matchup ranked No. 10 in both the AP and USA Today with a record of 12-1. In the all-time series between the two Mizzou and Tennessee, the Lady Volunteers hold an 8-2 advantage. Last season, Mizzou pulled off a 77-73 win over the 11th-ranked Lady Volunteers in front of a profgram record 11,092 fans at Mizzou Arena.
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 15.7 points per game, while Smith leads the team in rebounding at 7.7 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 15.7 PPG ranks ninth and her 5.9 RPG ranks 18th, while Smith's 14.5 PPG ranks 15th and her 7.7 RPG ranks 11th. 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 17.7 points per game in her last seven games which includes five games with 18+ points. Smith has carried much of the rebounding load for Mizzou, as she leads the team in rebounds with 115, 7.7 per game. Smith been a double-double machine in her junior campaign, as she has recorded six double-doubles in 15 games this season, a mark which ranks third in the SEC and 27th in the NCAA.
HOT SHOOTING
- 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 |
ROAD WARRIORS
- Mizzou has played especially well on the road this season as the Tigers are a perfect 4-0 away from Mizzou Arena this season. Mizzou has outscored its road foes by 19 points per game in its four victories, 74.5-55.5.
- Mizzou is shooting a solid 46.2 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the three-point arc on the road this season, and is outrebounding its opponents, 40.8-30.3.
- Mizzou opened the season with an 89-64 win over Western Illinois on Nov. 6 as senior guard Sophie Cunningham led the way for the Tigers with 31 points.
- Junior guard Amber Smith led Mizzou to a 68-51 win over West Virginia on Dec. 2, as the Tiger junior recorded career highs in points (28) and rebounds (13). Mizzou was able to hold the Mountaineers to 34.8 points below its season average in the victory.
- Mizzou also recorded road victories over Saint Louis, 74-62, on Dec. 9, and Illinois, 67-45, on Dec. 21. The 45 points Mizzou gave up to Illinois was the second-lowest point total of the season, trailing only the 36 points given up to SIUE on Nov. 19.
CIERRA PORTER RETURNS
- After originally medically retiring in June, senior forward Cierra Porter decided to return to the basketball court over the holiday break, first returning for Mizzou's game against Arkansas State (Dec. 30).
- Porter scored four points, grabbed two rebounds and had two steals in 11 minutes of action in her return to the court. With her four points, Porter notched the 1,000-point of her career, becoming the 36th member of Mizzou's 1,000-point club, and the fourth Tiger to reach the plateau in the last three seasons.
- In her second game back, Porter scored four points and was 2-for-2 from the field with three rebounds and a block in 14 minutes of action against Ole Miss (Jan. 3).
- Porter's career totals are among the best in the SEC, as she currently ranks 14th in scoring (1,004), fourth in rebounding (664) and fifth in blocks (99).
- Between 2015-18, Porter averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game 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 (.794) and career rebounding average (7.0), and ninth in free throws made in a season (141, 2016-17).
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 seven games, as she is averaging 17.7 points per game with five games of 18+ points.
- Getting to the free throw line has been key in Cunningham's recent scoring burst, as she has shot 37-for-42 from the charity stripe in Mizzou's last six 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.
- 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 five assists against Arkansas State, marking her eighth 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 |
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
- Junior guard Amber Smith has become a double-double machine this season, as she has turned in six double-doubles in 15 games after only recording two in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Among conference and national ranks, Smith's six double-doubles rank third in the SEC and tied-for-27th in the NCAA.
- On the season, Smith is averaging 14.5 points per game and leads the team in rebounds per game (7.7) and blocks (21). Smith's rebounds per game ranks 11th in the SEC, while her points per game ranks 15th.
- 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 15 games, Smith has also recorded 21 blocks, including a career-high five in Mizzou's most recent 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-firth among all Mizzou players, and ranks eighth in the SEC among active leaders.
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.
- Mizzou is 4-0 since Roundtree was inserted into the starting lineup.
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 381 career assists, Aldridge is the team leader in career assists, ranks third among active SEC leaders and 30th among active NCAA D-I players. Aldridge recorded 228 assists in her first two seasons at Kansas.
- Through 15 games in 2018-19, Aldridge's three-point percentage as made significant leaps, as she is currently shooting 39.7 percent (27-for-68) 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.
LETHAL FROM THREE
- Mizzou has began to heat up from deep lately, as the Tigers have made seven or more three-pointers in nine of its last 11 contests. As a team, Mizzou ranks second in the SEC in three-pointers made per game, as the Tigers average 8.1 threes per game (121 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.
- Four Tigers are shooting better than 30 percent from deep on the season, led by Aldridge at 39.7 percent (27-for-68) and Schuchts at 37.1 percent (13-for-35). Following close behind is Smith at 36.0 percent (18-for-50) and Cunningham at 35.4 percent (28-for-79).
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 53.2 points in its 12 victories. Mizzou has held its opponents to 65 points or less in 13 of 15 games this season.
- Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in field goal percentage defense at 35.8 percent, and fifth in scoring defense at 55.9 points per game. The Tigers have forced 10 or more turnovers in 11 of 15 games this season, and have held their opponents to less than 40 percent from the field in 11 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