SEC Home Opener vs. LSU Next for Mizzou Women's Basketball

Sunday, January 5

Columbia, Mo.

1:00 P.M. CT

University of Missouri

LSU

SEC Home Opener vs. LSU Next for Mizzou Women's Basketball

1/4/2020 12:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Mizzou and LSU to tip at 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU

Mizzou vs. LSU
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	TV	LISTEN	STATS	GAME NOTES
LSU	Mizzou Arena	Sunday, Jan. 5	1 p.m. CT	ESPNU	KTGR	Stats	Notes

THE MATCHUP

Mizzou Women's Basketball returns home to Mizzou Arena for its SEC home opener, as the Tigers host LSU on Sunday, Jan. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU, with Mark Neely and Dan Hughes on the call. Mizzou will look to halt a five-game skid, its longest since the 2012-13 season, while the LSU Tigers enter the contest receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll with an 11-2 mark.

THE SERIES

Sunday's matchup will be the 13th all-time game between the two schools, as LSU holds a 9-3 advantage in the all-time series. Mizzou's lone win against LSU since joining the SEC came on Jan. 28, 2016 when the Tigers won 52-46 at Mizzou Arena.

ELITE FRESHMEN DUO

Mizzou's elite freshmen duo 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-30 in scoring in the SEC. Frank's mark of 12.1 points per game ranks fifth among SEC freshmen and 26th overall, while Blackwell's 11.9 points per game ranks sixth among SEC freshmen and 27th overall. 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 sixth.

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 20 steals this season, Chavis has already surpassed her mark of 14 steals last season, and has set her career-best mark for a single season. The Tiger senior has grabbed 11 steals in Mizzou's last five 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 31, and is one block away from enter the top-10 in program history with 111 career blocks. The Tiger senior has recorded multiple blocks in 11 games this season, and three or more blocks in four games. She has posted two or more blocks in six 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.

THREE-POINT SPECIALISTS

One thing that has carried over from past seasons for Mizzou is its ability to connect from deep range. Mizzou currently ranks third in the SEC and 44th nationally with a 35.4 percent (109-of-308) success rate from deep, and has made 10 or more threes in four games.
Senior guard Jordan Chavis is shooting 41.0 percent from deep this season (25-of-61), and recently entered Mizzou's top-10 all-time for career three-pointers made. She now ranks 10th all-time with 121 three-pointers after passing Amanda Hanneman (113, 2006-10). Chavis has made multiple three-pointers in nine games this season and 32 times in her career.
Redshirt senior forward Hannah Schuchts has connected on 39.4 percent (13-of-33) of her shots from three this season, and her career three-point percentage of 38.1 percent (56-of-147), ranks fifth all-time in program history.
Senior guard Amber Smith's career three-point percentage of 37.0 percent (112-of-303) ranks ninth all-time at Mizzou. Smith has shot 36.0 percent (18-of-50) from three this season, and made a season-best four triples from deep against Tennessee (Jan. 2). Smith will look to join Chavis on the all-time three-pointers list, as she currently ranks 12th with 112 career threes.

BLACKWELL SETTLES IN

After a bit of a shaky start, Mizzou freshman guard Aijha Blackwell has settled into her own during her freshman campaign, scoring in double figures in six of her last seven games. During the seven game stretch, Blackwell is averaging 13.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Blackwell, the No. 9-ranked recruit in the Class of 2019, has posted two 20-point games this season, scoring 21 points against Nebraska (Nov. 10) and against Illinois (Dec. 20). Her 21 points against the Huskers was the most points by a Mizzou freshman since Sophie Cunningham scored 23 against Texas in the 2016 NCAA Tournament (3/21/16).
Blackwell was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Dec. 10 after averaging 14.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game against Saint Louis (Dec. 5) and Kansas City (Dec. 8). The weekly conference honor is the first of Blackwell's career, and the first of the year for Mizzou. She paced the Tigers a 17-point performance against Saint Louis (Dec. 5), filling the stat sheet while leading the Tigers to victory, as she also contributed six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. With 11 points against Kansas City, Blackwell scored in double figures for the third consecutive game and the fourth time in her career. Blackwell also recorded career-highs in rebounds (seven) and assists (six), and matched her career high in blocks (two).
Blackwell has scored eight or more points in all but two games this season, and has grabbed five or more rebounds in 10 contests. She is currently averaging 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

FRANK'S SOLID DEBUT CAMPAIGN

Freshman forward Hayley Frank has played quite well in her freshman campaign so far, as she has scored in double figures in nine of the last 14 nine games.
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 (92.0 percent, 46-of-50). Among SEC freshmen, Frank ranks fifth in points per game (12.1).
Frank set a Mizzou freshman program record by making one or more three-pointer in each of her first 12 collegiate games. She surpassed Kassie Drew, who made 1+ three in her first nine games in 2004-05.

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 74.1 percent of its freebies (180-for-243) this season. Mizzou has posted marks of 75 percent or better from the free throw line in seven of 14 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 92.0 percent (46-of-50).
In total, six Tigers are shooting 80 percent or better from the charity stripe (min. 10 att.):

Player	FT-FTA	FT%
Hayley Frank	46-50	.920
Jordan Chavis	9-10	.900
Jordan Roundtree	23-26	.885
Hannah Schuchts	12-14	.857
Amber Smith	26-31	.839
Haley Troup	8-10	.800

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).