Many fans could not have predicted the success seen during this season of Missouri women’s basketball. This team, having achieved a record-breaking 13–0 start, boasting two of the top freshmen in the country on the starting lineup and having won 20 games in a season for the first time in recent memory, has overachieved in the highest manner.
Sure, there have been bumps in the road, but considering where this program was only a decade ago, the Tigers should be proud of their accomplished season. So what’s next for the Tigers? Only three games are left before the Tigers play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, which they have not won since 1994.
So how could it be done this year? How could the Tigers produce their best results in the following games to produce a possible fifth- or even fourth-seed birth in the conference tournament?
**Eliminate turnovers**
It starts with eliminating turnovers, a bug that has plagued the Tigers throughout the season. In their most recent home win against the Arkansas Razorbacks, a team that defeated the Tigers earlier in the season, Mizzou only accounted for two turnovers in the entire first half. The score at halftime was 42–17. During their worst stretch of the season, back-to-back losses to Georgia and Mississippi State, the Tigers had 42 combined turnovers.
“We’re just trying to put a whole game together,” said freshman Sophie Cunningham following her team’s turnover-ridden game against Georgia. “A whole 40 minutes. First half and second half. We just have to lock arms and get going.”
As stated before, turnovers cost points and ultimately games. If the Tigers can avoid those mistakes and move the ball as they did against Arkansas, the Tigers have a good chance of finishing in the top five in the conference.
**Move the ball**
The Tigers are deadliest when they have the ball moving quickly and efficiently. Again, against Arkansas, Mizzou assisted on all 16 baskets in the first half of play, totaling 22 assists on the night. Against No. 22 Florida earlier in the season, the Tigers accumulated 16 assists on 26 baskets made. And in their home win against No. 14 Mississippi State, the Tigers accumulated 19 assists on 25 baskets.
“In the last couple of games, our shot selection and our ball movement have been more of what we are accustomed to (than what) we have seen in the nonconference,” coach Robin Pingeton said after her team’s performance against Arkansas. “It’s a performance that we can just build off of.”
Simply put, when the Tigers move the ball at the lightning pace that they often can, they’re one of the best teams in the league.
**Stars must align**
The Tigers will definitely need some help if they wish to finish in a top-four spot. Some key losses early in the season trounced any hope of putting their destiny in the Tigers’ hands. Fortunately, there are opportunities that await to be seized. As it stands, it looks as if Texas A&M, Mississippi State and South Carolina will all end the season as the top three of the conference respectively; however, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee all have mountains to climb before the season ends.
Auburn must take on Missouri; Florida still has two very tough road games against Georgia and LSU; Georgia must face South Carolina; and Tennessee still has to face Georgia at the end of the season.
“In the SEC, every night is a dogfight,” Pingeton said.
As it stands, the Tigers have a very good chance of ending the season as a fifth seed in the tournament and an outside chance of ending fourth.
Time will tell the Tigers’ fate, but as the season stands, they still have had one of the best seasons in program history.
The Tigers travel to face Auburn on Feb. 21.