We turn the Starting Five preview to the women’s side today. In this feature, we’ll give you the anticipated starting lineups for each team, break down keys to a Missouri win and offer up a predictionHere’s the breakdown of tonight’s game against Arkansas.
OFF THE BENCH: First-year Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors will most likely look first to Devin Cosper off the bench today. Cosper is the team’s second-leading scorer behind starter Malica Monk, and the guard, who stands at 5-10, is averaging 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. Neighbors might also look to Keiryn Swenson at post. The 6-foot-1 forward can help in the post and is averaging five points and 2.4 rebounds a game.
OFF THE BENCH: Kayla Michael helped out immensely last game as Cierra Porter sat out with the flu. Michael had five points and five rebounds, and while Porter is expected to make a return to the lineup on Sunday, having Michael to sub in here and there will ensure Missouri doesn’t lose any of the height advantage with Porter out. Hannah Schuchts had 12 points all off of three-pointers on Thursday. She’ll be a big help behind the arc today as well.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Use height as an advantage. Missouri’s starting lineup has a good three inches on Arkansas’ starters. If the Tigers can shut down the Razorbacks in the paint — specifically Cierra Porter and Jordan Frericks — Missouri could hold Arkansas to a low shooting percentage. On the other side of the court, Missouri should be able to rack up the points in the paint.
2. Protect beyond the arc. With size being such an issue for Arkansas, the Razorbacks are likely to lean on their three-point shooting to help their offense. Arkansas has shot 37 percent from three-point land as a team and it’s making 7.7 threes per game. Missouri needs to shut down three-point shooting — without fouling — to shut down Arkansas’ offense.
3. Win the turnover margin. Arkansas is third in the SEC for fewest turnovers per game with 12.4 and forces opponents to commit 14.7. Missouri commits 14.2 per game and forces opponents into just 11.4. If Arkansas wins the turnover margin, the Razorbacks have a shot at countering Missouri’s hot offense.
TIP TIME INFORMATION
TIPOFF: 4 p.m. Central
TELEVISION: SEC Network
RADIO: Tiger Radio Network
THE BOTTOM LINE
No. 11 Missouri (16-2, 4-1 SEC) is the first of two tough road games for Arkansas (11-8, 2-4). The Razorbacks travel to No. 9 South Carolina on Thursday. Missouri should win this one, especially because it’s at Mizzou Arena, and it might be easier than the last two games have looked. Arkansas beat Ole Miss by one point, but lost to Florida, who is second-to-last in the SEC, by 14 points. Another win like the one on Thursday could put Missouri in the top 10 this coming week.
PREDICTION: Missouri 68, Arkansas 51
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Lauren Aldridge has been an incredibly consistent floor general for the Tigers this season. On Thursday, she had eight assists and one turnover, and she scored eight points. In the last two games, she has a 14-1 combined assist-to-turnover ratio. We expect she’ll provide more of the same today.
