At an early point in the women’s basketball practice Wednesday at Mizzou Arena, freshman guard Lianna Doty stood at half court dribbling the ball back and forth behind her back and watched her team run a ball-swing defensive drill.

Then, it was her turn.

She set the ball down and made her way to a wing. Marking her teammate, the 5-foot-7-inch Doty zipped between one-on-one and help defense.

“We really need her out here at practice,” coach Robin Pingeton said. “She’s an awfully talented young lady.”

Pingeton said Doty suffered a pre-stress fracture in her foot a week and a half ago. Still, she said, Doty continues to impress.

“She’s got great quickness, great court awareness,” Pingeton said. “She’s got the ability to create shots on the perimeter for herself and her teammates. (She has) great court vision. She does a lot of things really, really well. I think she is going to be one of those players that our fans are really going to enjoy over the next four years.”

Doty said she believes in putting the hard work in during practice and converting that effort into assists and points when she is in the game.

So far, it looks promising that Doty will get playing time this upcoming season, perhaps even in a starting position.

“I have an idea, but I’d rather not say right now,” Doty said. “Nothing is set in stone.”

Senior guard Sydney Crafton showed some resiliency of her own. After tweaking her back in a drill Wednesday, she returned minutes later showing no signs of pain.

Crafton said she also admires Doty and took no time to point out that she has great potential.

“She’s going to be phenomenal,” Crafton said. “I can’t believe it. She’s going to be great. She’s explosive, and her game is so mature for a freshman. Some of the stuff she does, I’m still in shock of. I can’t wait to play with her.”

Doty shared praise for her older teammates.

“I’m learning a lot from upperclassmen,” Doty said. “I could go on and list something from each player that I’ve learned from them. They’re definitely people that I’ve looked up to. They have a lot of confidence in me and that helps a lot.”

With such a young team —12 of the 13 players have experience of one year or less — and senior center Kendra Frazier’s availability this season in doubt with a knee injury, Pingeton said to expect a much different team this year.

Though Doty and her young teammates might have a bright future ahead, they said a formula is in place to win immediately.

“I definitely think that we’re going to be a team that starts on the defensive end,” Doty said. ” We have to be a team that can defend. Also, if we knock down shots, because we have a lot of great shooters, I think that’s how we can win. We’re going to be a tough team to guard in transition.”

Pingeton said the move into the Southeastern Conference would be a challenge and a learning process for the Tigers.

Doty said her focus was on learning, but she might be turning some heads at the same time.

“When it’s game time, she’s absolutely ready to go,” Pingeton said. “There’s no doubt about it. She’s one of our toughest kids.”