WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Missouri at Saint Louis
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 • 5 p.m. CST
WHERE: Chaifetz Arena • St. Louis, Missouri
RECORDS: SLU 4-5; Missouri 7-2
SERIES: Missouri leads 21-1
LAST MEETING: at Missouri 70, SLU 58 (12/8/17) RECAP
BILLIKENS’ LAST GAME: UConn 98, at SLU 42 (Dec. 4) RECAP
TIGERS’ LAST GAME: at Missouri 66, Kansas City 59 (Dec. 6) RECAP
UP NEXT FOR THE BILLIKENS: at Illinois State • Thursday, Dec. 20 • 11 a.m. CST • Normal, Ill.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
• The Saint Louis Billikens (4-5) challenge a nationally ranked opponent for a second consecutive game when they clash with the Missouri Tigers (7-2) Sunday, Dec. 9. Tip time at Chaifetz Arena is scheduled for 5 p.m.
• Missouri comes to Chaifetz Arena ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the coaches’ poll.
• Saint Louis is facing nationally ranked opponents in consecutive games for the first time in program history. The Billikens played No. 1 Connecticut Tuesday night.
• SLU and Missouri have split the last two games, each winning on its home court. The Tigers prevailed 70-58 last year in Columbia, rallying from an eight-point deficit late in the third quarter. Two years ago at Chaifetz Arena, the Billikens trailed by 18 points late in the third quarter but outscored Missouri 34-8 in the fourth for a 72-61 victory.
• Saint Louis is trying for a second victory over a Power 5 conference opponent this season after toppling Virginia of the ACC Nov. 25. That triumph gave the Billikens at least one win over a Power 5 conference team for a third consecutive season. SLU defeated Ole Miss (SEC) last year and downed Missouri (SEC) and Washington State (Pac-12) two years ago.
• Jordyn Frantz leads Saint Louis in scoring (13.7 ppg), 3-point field goals (22) and free throw percentage (27-of-31, .871). Frantz also chips in 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
• Ciaja Harbison scores 13.4 points per game and leads the Billikens with 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Harbison also grabs 3.8 rebounds per contest and shoots 82.5 percent (33-of-40) from the foul line. She has scored in double figures in four consecutive games (15.8 ppg).
• Kendra Wilken averages 6.4 points and leads Saint Louis in field goal percentage (.600) and offensive rebounds (14).
• Evan Zars leads the Billikens in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
• Following a career-high 18-point effort vs. UConn, Myia Clark has moved up to fourth on the Billikens’ scoring chart with a 6.0 ppg average. Clark also grabs 4.0 rebounds per game.
• Kerri McMahan is playing a solid all-around game. McMahan averages 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, shoots 46 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free throw line, and has the Billikens’ best assist-turnover ratio (1.33-to-1).
• Amber Lindfors averages 4.1 rebounds and has a team-high 14 blocks.
• Saint Louis has two players ranked among the top 10 scorers in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Jordyn Frantz (13.7 ppg) and Ciaja Harbison (13.4 ppg) are eighth and 10th, respectively.
• Frantz and Harbison also own top-10 spots in A-10 free throw shooting. Frantz is No. 4 at 87.1 percent (27-of-31), while Harbison is No. 9 at 82.5 percent (33-of-40).
• Seventh-year head coach Lisa Stone brings a 111-91 record at Saint Louis into Sunday’s game. Now in her 33rd season as a collegiate head coach, Stone owns a 614-328 career mark.
A LOOK AT MISSOURI
• Missouri was 14th in the coaches’ poll and 16th in the Associated Press poll to begin the season. The Tigers dropped out of the rankings in late November but returned this week following consecutive wins over Quinnipiac, Duke and West Virginia. They made it four straight victories by beating Kansas City Thursday night.
• Mizzou returned three starters and seven additional letterwinners from its 2017-18 team that was 24-8 overall and 11-5 (tied for fourth) in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Senior guard Sophie Cunningham is a two-time A.P. All-America honorable mention. Cunningham leads the Tigers with 15.1 points per game and adds 6.0 rebounds per game.
• Junior guard Amber Smith is a close second in scoring (14.9 ppg) and tops the Missouri charts in rebounding (7.8 rpg), steals (12) and blocks (13).
• Redshirt-senior guard Lauren Aldridge owns team highs in assists (2.8 apg) and 3-pointers (16).
