Thursday, January 9
Columbia, Mo.
6:00 P.M. CT
University of Missouri
vs
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Mississippi State
Mizzou Women's Basketball Hosts No. 13/12 Mississippi State Thursday at Mizzou Arena
1/8/2020 3:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou and Mississippi State to tip at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network
| Mizzou vs. No. 13/12 Mississippi State | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | TV | LISTEN | STATS | GAME NOTES |
| Mississippi State | Mizzou Arena | Thursday, Jan. 9 | 6 p.m. CT | SEC Network | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
THE MATCHUP
- Mizzou Women's Basketball hosts the second of a two-game homestand on Thursday, as the Tigers host the No. 13/12 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday, Jan. 9. Tipoff from Mizzou Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network, with Eric Frede and Tamika Catchings on the call. Mizzou is coming off its first SEC win of the season on Sunday, as Mizzou defeated LSU, 69-65. Mississippi State enters the contest ranked 13th in the AP Poll and 12th in the USA Today Coaches Poll with a 14-2 record and 2-0 mark in the SEC.
THE SERIES
- Thursday's matchup will be the 11th all-time game between the two schools, as Mississippi State holds a 8-2 advantage in the all-time series. Mizzou and Mississippi State split two matchups last season, as the Tigers recorded its first-ever win in Starkville, 73-67, on Feb. 14, 2019. The win over the fifth-ranked Bulldogs was Mizzou's highest-ever road win in the regular season. The victory also snapped a 30-game home win streak and a 26-game SEC regular season win streak for the Bulldogs.
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. Blackwell's mark of 12.1 points per game ranks fifth among SEC freshmen and 27th overall, while Frank's 12.0 points per game ranks sixth among SEC freshmen and 28th 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, Blackwell's scoring average ranks fifth all-time among Mizzou freshmen, while Frank's average ranks sixth.
THREE-POINT SHOOTING DEPTH
- For years, a staple of the Mizzou offense has been its ability to shoot the deep ball. That skill has not changed this season, as Mizzou's currently ranks in the SEC's top-three and the nation's top-50 in three-pointers made (120 - second in SEC, 23rd nationally), three-pointers made per game (8.0 - third in SEC, 41st nationally) and three-point percentage (35.9 percent - third in SEC, 37th nationally).
- Individually, six Tigers are shooting better than 35 percent from deep and seven have made 10 or more shots from three. Senior guard Jordan Roundtree leads the team in three-point percentage at 46.4 percent (13-of-28), while senior guard Jordan Chavis leads the team in three-pointers made with 28. Chavis' team-leading 1.7 three-pointers made per game ranks fifth in the SEC.
- Senior guard Jordan Chavis is shooting 40.4 percent from deep this season (28-of-66), and recently entered Mizzou's top-10 all-time for career three-pointers made. She now ranks ninth all-time with 124 three-pointers after passing Julie Helm (123, 1995-00). Chavis has made multiple three-pointers in 10 games this season and 33 times in her career.
- Redshirt senior forward Hannah Schuchts has connected on 36.8 percent (14-of-38) of her shots from three this season, and her career three-point percentage of 37.5 percent (57-of-152), ranks seventh all-time in program history.
- Senior guard Amber Smith's career three-point percentage of 36.8 percent (112-of-304) 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.
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. Chavis grabbed a career-high six steals against Kansas City (Dec. 8), 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 32, and entered Mizzou's top-10 all-time in program history with 112 career blocks. The Tiger senior has recorded multiple blocks in 11 games this season, and three or more blocks in four games. Schuchts produced two or more blocks in six consecutive games from Dec. 5 to Jan. 2, 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.
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 seven of her last eight games. During the eight game stretch, Blackwell is averaging 14.6 points and 6.6 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 11 contests. She is currently averaging 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 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 10 of 15 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 sixth nationally and leads the SEC in free throw percentage (92.0 percent, 46-of-50). Among SEC freshmen, Frank ranks sixth in points per game (12.0).
- 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 74.5 percent of its freebies (190-for-255) this season. Mizzou has posted marks of 75 percent or better from the free throw line in eight of 15 games this season, including seven games of 80 percent or better.
- Freshman forward Hayley Frank currently leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in free throw percentage at 92.0 percent (46-of-50).
- In total, five 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 | 29-35 | .829 |
- 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).
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Players Mentioned
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