University of Missouri
Illinois
Women's Basketball Set for Braggin' Rights Rivalry Against Illinois
12/16/2022 1:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Columbia, Mo. – The University of Missouri Women's basketball team renews its Braggin' Rights rivalry against Illinois at 4 p.m. Sunday in Mizzou Arena. The contest will air live on SEC Network and KTGR.
The Tigers enter Sunday's contest sporting an 11-1 record following a 74-61 victory over Jackson State last Sunday. With the triumph, Mizzou currently owns a five-game winning streak and continues its undefeated start at home.
Led by 21 points from senior forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.), Mizzou never trailed en route to victory over the Lady Tigers its last time out. Frank shot 8-of-13 from the field and tied her season high with four made 3-pointers.
The rest of the lineup contributed on the offensive end as well. Senior guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.) and freshman guard Ashton Judd (West Plains, Mo.) joined Frank in tallying double figures in the point column. The Tigers combined to shoot 51.9% from the field, signifying the fourth contest in which Mizzou has shot 50% or better this season.
Hansen and Judd also played lights out defensively with four steals apiece, becoming the first duo to record 4+ steals in a game since Nadia Green and Jordan Chavis in a victory over Auburn on Feb. 27, 2020. Mizzou totaled 13 steals against Jackson State, the highest single-game total from the Tigers since they snatched 14 against Southern Illinois on Dec. 20, 2020.
Defense has been Mizzou's strong suit through non-conference play, as the Tigers allow just 53.0 points per game, good for 18th in the nation and fifth in the SEC. Mizzou also ranks 21st in field goal defense, as opponents shoot just 34.2% against the Tigers.
In the most recent Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Mizzou received two votes, marking the first time the Tigers have received votes since rankings released on Jan. 17, 2022.
Sunday will mark the 16th time the Tigers and the Fighting Illini will square off. Illinois holds a 6-9 advantage in the series, though Mizzou won the most recent matchup, an 84-65 decision in Champaign on Dec. 22, 2021.
Illinois enters Sunday's contest with a 9-2 record and a 1-1 mark in Big Ten Conference play. The Fighting Illini have won their last two contests, most recently a tight contest at Butler on Dec. 11.
Shauna Green is in her first year at the helm after becoming the 10th head coach in Illinois program history on March 21, 2022. Prior to this season, Green was the head coach at Dayton for six seasons, where she led the Flyers to five Atlantic 10 regular season titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Fighting Illini boast the 19th-best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 80.9 points per game. The offense is led by three players who average 10+ points per game, with junior guard Makira Cook leading the team with 17.9 points per game, the eighth-best mark in the Big Ten.
Season tickets for the 2022-23 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting ticketmaster.com/Mizzou. For more information, call the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
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For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
