Friday, December 20
Columbia, Mo.
Noon CT
University of Missouri
vs
Illinois
Braggin' Rights Comes to Columbia as Mizzou Women's Basketball Hosts Illinois Friday
12/19/2019 4:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou and Illinois to Tip at Noon CT on SEC Network
| Mizzou vs. Illinois | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | TV | LISTEN | STATS | GAME NOTES |
| Illinois | Mizzou Arena | Friday, Dec. 20 | Noon CT | SEC Network | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
THE MATCHUP
- Mizzou Women's Basketball will finish the non-conference portion of its schedule on Friday, Dec. 20, as the Tigers host Illinois in a Braggin' Rights contest. Tipoff from Mizzou Arena is slated for Noon CT on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen and Steffi Sorensen on the call. Mizzou is looking to halt a three-game skid, while Illinois looks to improve on a 8-2 start to its season.
THE SERIES
- Friday's matchup will be the 14th all-time game between the two programs as the Tigers and Fighting Illini play for the third consecutive season. Illinois leads the all-time series, 8-5, but Mizzou has won the last two contests, including a 67-45 win last season in Champaign on Dec. 21, 2018.
ELITE FRESHMEN DUO
- Mizzou's elite freshmen class of guard Aijha Blackwell and forward Hayley Frank have lived up to their billing so far this season, as they both currently rank among the top-35 in scoring in the SEC. Frank's mark of 13.3 points per game ranks second among SEC freshman and 18th overall, while Blackwell's 10.8 points per game ranks fifth overall among SEC freshmen.
- In program history, only seven freshmen have ever averaged double figures for the Tigers, and never has there been more than one in a single season. Currently, Frank's scoring average ranks fifth all-time among Mizzou freshmen, while Blackwell's average ranks seventh.
FRANK'S HOT STRETCH
- Freshman forward Hayley Frank has settled into her freshman campaign quite well, as she has scored in double figures in nine of the 10 nine games, a stretch where she has averaged 14.5 points per game. Against New Mexico (Nov. 28) at the Cancun Challenge, Frank scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds while shooting 9-of-14 from the field, 4-of-5 from three and 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Her 29 points was a new career-high, the most by a Tiger this season and the most by a Mizzou freshman since Sophie Cunningham scored 29 points against Kentucky on Feb. 25, 2016. Frank ranks fifth nationally and leads the SEC in free throw percentage (93.2 percent, 42-of-45). Among SEC freshmen, Frank ranks second in points per game (13.3) and three-pointers per game (1.6). Frank has made one or more three-pointers in every game this season, becoming the first Tiger in program history to record one or more three-pointers in each of her first 12 games. She surpassed Kassie Drew, who made 1+ three in her first nine games in 2004-05.
SENIOR DUO STEPPING UP ON DEFENSE
- Mizzou seniors Jordan Chavis and Hannah Schuchts have stepped up for Mizzou on the defensive end of the floor this season, leading the team in steals and blocks, respectively.
- With 18 steals this season, Chavis has already surpassed her mark of 14 steals last season, and is one away from matching a career-best mark for a single season after posting 19 steals in her freshman campaign (2016-17). The Tiger senior has grabbed nine steals in Mizzou's last three games, including a career-high six steals against Kansas City (Dec. 8). It marked the most steals by a Tiger since Sierra Michaelis grabbed nine steals against Wichita State on Dec. 9, 2016.
- Schuchts leads the team in blocks by a wide-margin with 27, and is nearing the top-10 in program history in blocks with 107 career blocks. The Tiger senior has recorded multiple blocks in nine games this season, and three or more blocks in four games this season. She has posted two or more blocks in four consecutive games, the longest streak of her career. Against South Dakota (Nov. 21), Schuchts matched a career-high with five blocks, the second time in her career she has hit that mark. Schuchts needs just seven more blocked shots to enter the program's top-10 all-time (112), marks set by Cierra Porter (2015-19) and EeTisha Riddle (2003-07).
THREE-POINT SPECIALISTS
- One thing that has carried over from past seasons is Mizzou's ability to connect from deep range. Seniors Jordan Chavis, Hannah Schuchts and Amber Smith, along with redshirt sophomore Haley Troup all have the capability to stretch the floor and drain the three-ball for the Tigers.
- Schuchts has connected on 36.7 percent (11-of-30) of her shots from three this season. Her career three-point percentage of 37.8 percent (54-of-144), ranks seventh all-time in program history.
- Smith's career three-point percentage of 36.9 percent (108-of-293) ranks ninth all-time at Mizzou.
- Against Saint Louis (Devc. 5), Chavis entered Mizzou's top-10 all-time for career three-pointers made, as she now ranks 10th all-time with 117 three-pointers, passing Amanda Hanneman (113, 2006-10). Smith will look to join Chavis on the all-time three-pointers list, as she currently ranks 13th with 108 career threes.
CHARITY STRIPE SUCCESS
- Mizzou has put an emphasis on getting to the free throw line this season, as the Tigers have connected on an SEC-leading 76.2 percent of its freebies (163-for-214) this season. Mizzou has posted marks of 75 percent or better from the free throw line in seven of 11 games this season, including six games of 80 percent or better.
- Freshman forward Hayley Frank currently leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally in free throw percentage at 93.3 percent (42-of-45).
- Mizzou's mark of 31 made free throws against Nebraska (Nov. 10), was the most made free throws by a Tiger team since hitting the same mark against Wake Forest on Nov. 22, 2015. Mizzou made 31-of-38 shots from the free throw line against the Huskers.
- Mizzou had three players set individual career marks from the free throw line against the Huskers, as senior guard Amber Smith went 10-for-11, senior guard Jordan Roundtree was a perfect 9-for-9, freshman guard Aijha Blackwell was 5-for-10.
- Against Northern Iowa (Nov. 13), freshman forward Hayley Frank posted a 9-for-10 mark from the charity stripe.
- Mizzou shot an impressive (93.8 percent, 15-of-16) from the charity stripe against Arkansas (Dec. 5), its best mark since Feb. 28, 2019 (96.3 percent, 26-of-27 at Arkansas).
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMizzou 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
