The Tigers have a winning record but look to improve heading into Thanksgiving break
The Missouri women’s basketball team has been busy, playing four games in the first nine days of the season. The Tigers went 3-1 in that stretch, winning their three games at home but losing on the road to Saint Louis University. Here’s what we’ve learned in this early stretch about the team.
Freshman fighters
Missouri’s roster is filled with newcomers, including five freshmen. So far, all of them have seen playing time to some extent, with guard Grace Slaughter leading the way.
Slaughter has been the only freshman to start, beginning the game on the court in all four of Missouri’s games so far. She ranks second on the team in scoring, with 15.3 points per game while shooting 53% from the field and 42% on 3-pointers. She isn’t afraid to use her 6-foot-2 frame, averaging five rebounds a game. Slaughter is the iron woman for the team, leading the Tigers with 34.5 minutes per game.
Abby Schreacke has made an impact off the bench, averaging 24.8 minutes as the sixth woman, or first player off the bench. Schreacke is also scoring in double-digits with 10.5 points on 60% shooting and 57% beyond-the-arc.
Forward Hannah Linthacum has played a role in all four games, playing the five-spot with an average of 10 minutes per game. She is currently averaging 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds on 57% shooting from the field.
Ashton Judd the spark plug
Sophomore guard Ashton Judd has begun to take the leap many expected her to this season. After coming off the bench in every game last year, she has since started in each of the four games so far. She leads the team in scoring currently with 18 points per game. This was helped in large part from her 31-point outing in Missouri’s second game against Indiana State. In addition to her scoring, Judd has taken a step forward in her rebounding game. After averaging three rebounds in her freshman year, she has crushed it with an average of 7.5 rebounds in four games. The sophomore finished last season with no 10-plus rebound games, but has turned around and already recorded two in the 2023-24 season.
No defense needed
One thing Missouri hopes to improve on is its work on the defensive end.
In their first four games, the Tigers have allowed 70.8 points per game, including 93 in their only loss to Saint Louis. Compare that to last year, where the team allowed only 62.3 points in their 18-14 finish.“We still have to be more disciplined with our defensive rotations and our stances and our 1-on-1 accountability,” head coach Robin Pingeton said after Missouri’s 83-72 win against North Alabama.
Defensive mistakes galore
Most of these defensive faults came due to fouls and turnovers.
In their first four games, the Tigers have committed 89 personal fouls. In the loss to Saint Louis, Missouri sent the Billikens to the free-throw line 28 times, while only taking seven foul shots of their own.
In terms of turnovers, the Tigers have forced their opponents into 75 turnovers. Most recently this included a 10-steal performance from senior guard Mama Dembele against North Alabama.
However, they have committed 83 turnovers of their own with a season-high of 25 against Indiana State. Dembele and Judd have been the guilty party most often, averaging 4 turnovers per game so far.
Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Grace Knight