In anticipation of a large walk-up crowd for the #23 Mizzou women’s basketball game on Monday night at 6 p.m. vs. #13 Tennessee, fans are encouraged to pick up tickets in advance at the Mizzou Ticket Office. The ticket office will be open from 1 p.m. – halftime of the Harlem Globetrotters game (5 p.m. tipoff) on Sunday and then will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Fans are encouraged to wear white.
There were over 6,000 fans for the last women’s game when the Tigers defeated Charlotte ahead of the men’s contest last Tuesday. Mizzou has started the season 13-0 for the first time in program history with their run through non-conference play.
Freshman Sophie Cunningham leads the Tigers with 15.7 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. In just her fourth career game on Nov. 22 vs. Wake Forest, Cunningham set a new school record with 42 points, which is the second-highest single-game total in NCAA Division I this season.
Cunningham broke a nearly 30-year-old record of 41 points that was established by Renee Kelly on Jan. 25, 1986 vs. Oklahoma at the Hearnes Center. She has scored 14 points in a quarter three times (1st vs. Lamar on Dec. 20, 2nd and 4th vs. Wake Forest on Nov. 22).
The Tigers rank seventh nationally in scoring margin (+24.2), ninth in rebounding margin (+13.2), 12th in free throw percentage (76.5), 15th in field goal percentage (47.1), 20th in scoring offense (80.0 points per game), 25th in 3-pointers per game (8.2), 43rd in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.14) and 45th in scoring defense (55.8 points allowed per game).
If the Tigers are going to set their school record for wins, they will certainly have earned it. Mizzou opens SEC play with #13 Tennessse.
The Lady Vols are 9-3 overall and have won two straight at No. 7 Oregon State on Dec. 19 and vs. Stetson on Dec. 30.
Holly Warlick is 95-23 (.805) since taking over for Pat Summitt prior to the 2012-13 season.
Redshirt sophomore guard Diamond DeShields averages a team-leading 14.8 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals. She was the espnW, USBWA and Full Court National Freshman of the Year with North Carolina in 2013-14.
Redshirt sophomore center Mercedes Russell is scoring 11.6 points per contest and averages a team-best 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Senior forward Bashaara Graves (Clarksville, Tenn.) averages 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds.