Mizzou’s LaDazhia Williams will try to help the Tigers get back on the winning track when they go on the road to face Alabama in a key SEC women’s basketball contest, Sunday evening in Tuscaloosa. (Photo: Nathan Assata)
Mizzou Women’s Basketball – Gameday Info
Game No. 22 – Missouri (15-6, 4-4) at Alabama (11-8, 2-6)
Date/Time – Sunday, January 30 – 5 pm
Location – Coleman Coliseum – Tuscaloosa, AL
Broadcast – SEC Network
Live Stats – Sidearm Stats
by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
The University of Missouri women’s basketball team will face its second straight road test (and third in its last four games), Sunday afternoon, when it heads down to the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, for a key Southeastern Conference showdown against Alabama.
Missouri is coming off a tough road loss at Mississippi State on Thursday, in which the Tigers fell behind early and could never quite recover. Mississippi State had one of its best shooting nights of the season, where it made 51 percent of its shots, including 14 three-pointers.
Mizzou, on the other hand, had a dismal night, where it shot just 45 percent from the floor and made just six-of-19 on its three-point attempts.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 15-6 overall and 4-4 in SEC play, which even with their win over No. 1 South Carolina, puts Mizzou in eighth place in the SEC. Alabama, which has lost five of its last six games, did win its last game, Thursday night over its archrival Auburn, to move to 11-8 overall and 2-6 in league play.
The Tide is in 12th place in the SEC standings, but could take over Mizzou’s spot in eighth with a win on Sunday and a couple of other breaks around the conference.
The all-time series between the Tigers and the Tide is tied 7-7, but Alabama has won the last three meetings, including last year’s matchup in the second round of the SEC Tournament, 82-74.
Players to Watch: Mizzou’s junior trio of Aijha Blackwell, Hayley Frank, and Lauren Hansen will have to play well on Sunday if the Tigers are going to get back on track.
Each player has taken their turn leading the Tigers, but on Thursday, none of them really played well. Blackwell had her 15th double-double of the season, with 17 points and 16 rebounds, but she also had four turnovers and didn’t start the game due to an undisclosed disciplinary reason.
Frank, who had 28 points in Mizzou’s win over Texas A&M last Sunday, had just 11 points on Thursday, and Hansen had just two points and only made one of the five shots she attempted.
Alabama has its own scoring threesome that could cause problems for the Tigers in seniors Megan Abrams (12.7 ppg), Brittany Davis (16.2 ppg), and junior JaMya Mingo-Young (11.0 ppg).
Up Next: Mizzou will follow Sunday’s matchup with four huge contests in a row to begin the month of February.
First, on Thursday, February 3, the Tigers will host Mississippi, which is tied for third in the SEC. Then after a week off, Mizzou will face the first of three straight ranked opponents, when it takes on No. 5 Tennessee on February 10.
On February 13, the Tigers will host No. 25 Arkansas, then go on the road on February 17, to face No. 16 Georgia.
Alabama’s next game will also be on Thursday, February 3, when they’ll go on the road to play No. 1-ranked South Carolina.
Probable Starters
Missouri Yr. Pos. Ht. PPG RPG APG
1 Lauren Hansen Jr. G 5-8 11.8 2.3 1.5
4 Mama Dembele So. G 5-6 5.6 2.3 3.7
13 Haley Troup Sr. G 5-10 8.5 2.2 3.5
33 Aijha Blackwell Jr. G 6-0 16.6 13.6 1.5
43 Hayley Frank Jr. F 6-1 16.1 4.8 1.7
Alabama Yr. Pos. Ht. PPG RPG
1 Megan Abrams Sr. G 5-9 12.7 3.3
2 JaMya Mingo-Young Jr. G 5-8 11.0 6.1
5 Hannah Barber Sr. G 5-6 8.3 2.2
23 Brittany Davis Sr. G 5-9 16.2 7.4
31 Jada Rice Sr. C 6-4 6.8 5.1
| Mizzou Tigers Women’s Basketball Remaining Schedule |
| Sun., January 30 — at Alabama — 5 pm |
| Thu., February 3 — vs. Ole Miss — 6 pm |
| Thu., February 10 — at #5 Tennessee — 5:30 pm |
| Sun., February 13 — vs. #25 Arkansas — 2 pm |
| Thu., February 17 — at #16 Georgia — 6 pm |
| Sun., February 20 — vs. Mississippi State — 2 pm |
| Thu., February 24 — vs. Kentucky — 7 pm |
| Sun., February 27 — at Florida — 11 am |
| March 2-6 — 2022 SEC Tournament in Nashville |
| All Mizzou home basketball games will be played at Mizzou Arena. |