After breaking a four-game losing streak against Georgia on Sunday, the LSU women’s basketball team hopes to continue its defensive pressure when it takes on No. 22 Missouri tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Missouri.
“Missouri is a team that has a balanced attack,” said LSU coach Nikki Fargas. “They’ve obviously always been known for their ability to stretch your defense and shoot the three, but they’ve added an inside presence to their offensive execution. They’re pressing more, so taking care of the basketball full court is going to be key.”
Defense was LSU’s strong point for winning the last game and will be its focus for the upcoming one. The Lady Tigers prevented Georgia from scoring near its average of 65.8 points a game.
Missouri makes 74.4 percent of its free throws, and though the Lady Tigers are playing more aggressive, fouling out could be a mistake. Missouri’s strong offensive team will challenge the Lady Tigers.
Missouri freshman guard Sophie Cunningham ranks second in the SEC making 83.1 percent of free throws. Missouri junior guard Sierra Michaelis hits 34.3 percent of her attempts behind the arc, good for the seventh-highest clip in the conference. The team averages 74.1 points per game.
“They are a good three-point shooting team so we need to be able to defend that and contest those shots,” junior guard Rina Hill said. “We also need to rebound the ball on the defensive end, which will be key.”
The team has been battling a loss of players due to injuries all season, but through the adjustments the Lady Tigers have made, the lack of players failed to hinder the team’s hard work and dedication.
While learning how to play together defensively, LSU adapted to playing without a few of its key players — junior guard Raigyne Moncrief, senior forward Ann Jones and sophomore guard Jenna Deemer.
LSU junior guard Jasmine Rhodes said the circumstances have brought the Lady Tigers closer together and they are starting to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Because the Lady Tigers are accustomed to playing with a smaller squad available, the team is ready to take on Missouri, said LSU junior forward Alexis Hyder.
“I think it is OK now because we have done it,” Hyder said. “Maybe some of the earlier games, it was tough, but now, we are learning each other, literally. I know [Bethel] and I have a dual going. I know how [Hill] is going to come off the screen, I know [Rhodes] is going to be spotting up. Things like that help.”
The Lady Tigers look to play as well offensively as they have defensively. LSU shot 37.3 percent (19-51) from the field last game and outrebounded its last opponent, 38-28. Hyder said the Lady Tigers must finish as strongly as they began.
“We have discovered that we can defend,” she said.“We just have to finish. We need to box out and get that hustle play. After that, we have to score. We have to capitalize after getting the stop or the steal.”
After breaking a four-game losing streak against Georgia on Sunday, the LSU women’s basketball team hopes to continue its defensive pressure when it takes on No. 22 Missouri tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Missouri.
“Missouri is a team that has a balanced attack,” said LSU coach Nikki Fargas. “They’ve obviously always been known for their ability to stretch your defense and shoot the three, but they’ve added an inside presence to their offensive execution. They’re pressing more, so taking care of the basketball full court is going to be key.”
Defense was LSU’s strong point for winning the last game and will be its focus for the upcoming one. The team prevented Georgia from scoring near their average of 65.8 points a game.
Missouri averages 74.4 percent in free throws, and though the Lady Tigers are playing more aggressive, fouling out could be a mistake. Missouri has a strong offensive team that will challenge the Lady Tigers.
Missouri freshman guard Sophie Cunningham ranks second in the SEC shooting 83.1 percent of free throws. Missouri junior guard Sierra Michaelis shoots 34.3 percent of three-pointers, making her the seventh ranked player in the SEC. The team averages 74.1 points per game.
“They are a good three-point shooting team so we need to be able to defend that and contest those shots,” said junior guard Rina Hill. “We also need to rebound the ball on the defensive end, which will be key.”
The team has been battling a loss of players due to injuries all season but through the adjustments the Lady Tigers have made, the lack of players failed to hinder the team’s hard work and dedication.
While learning how to play together defensively, the team must also get used to playing without a few of its key players — junior guard Raigyne Moncrief, senior forward Ann Jones and sophomore guard Jenna Deemer.
LSU junior guard Jasmine Rhodes said the circumstances have brought them closer together and they are starting to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Because the Lady Tigers are accustomed to playing with a smaller group of women available, the team is ready to take on Missouri, said LSU junior forward Alexis Hyder.
“I think it is OK now because we have done it,” Hyder said. “Maybe some of the earlier games, it was tough, but now, we are learning each other, literally. I know [Bethel] and I have a dual going. I know how [Hill] is going to come off the screen, I know [Rhodes] is going to be spotting up. Things like that help.”
The Lady Tigers look to play as well offensively as they have defensively.
LSU shot 37.3 percent (19-51) from the field last game and outrebounded its last opponent, 38-28.
Hyder said the Lady Tigers must finish as strongly as they began.
“We have discovered that we can defend,” she said.“We just have to finish. We need to box out and get that hustle play. After that, we have to score. We have to capitalize after getting the stop or the steal.”
You can reach Jourdan Riley on Twitter @jourdanr_TDR