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 prediction.Here’s the breakdown of tonight’s game at Georgia:
OFF THE BENCH: Georgia coach Joni Taylor has a deep bench to look to for scoring purposes. Freshman Gabby Connelly scored a career-high and Georgia freshman record 37 points against No. 16 Texas A&M on Jan. 14. The guard is averaging 8.5 points per game and shoots 42 percent from the field. Another freshman, Maya Caldwell, has scored in double figures four times this year off the bench. She’s averaging 5.9 points per game and shoots 47 percent from the field.
OFF THE BENCH: Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said that Cierra Porter, after sitting out with an illness the past two games, is likely to start tonight, but if she’s still feeling under the weather, the Tigers still have Kayla Michael, who has shown she’s ready to step up when the team needs her. Along with Jordan Chavis, who is averaging 6.9 points per game, Hannah Schuchts has also impressed as of late. She had 12 points against Ole Miss, and she grabbed two defensive rebounds against Arkansas.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Find versatility. Georgia is a defensive team, plain and simple. The Bulldogs are 15-0 when an opponent shoots less than 40 percent in a game this season. Missouri is averaging 73.2 points per game, but the Tigers are really going to need to take shots from all over the court to stretch Georgia on defense. Missouri is going to need to be conscientious of swinging the ball around — the Tigers love to share the ball — to avoid crucial turnovers.
2. To post or not to post. Senior Mackenzie Engram and junior Caliya Robinson are the two tallest players for Georgia, standing at 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3, respectively. The two combined 26 points per game. The problem for Missouri, though, is that Engram and Robinson aren’t strictly forwards. They can get open beyond the arc and make those shots, too — Engram is shooting 45 percent from three-ball territory this season. Missouri has to be more stout on defense than it has been all season tonight.
3. Physicality in the paint. It’s been a key to the game before this season, and Missouri has always made it a goal before every game to win on the boards. But it’s especially key against Georgia, who have those two post players in Engram and Robinson who average a combined 14.2 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs average 41.5 rebounds per game, versus opponent’s 36.5. Missouri’s Jordan Frericks, Cierra Porter and Kayla Michael are going to be crucial on the boards tonight, and they’re going to have to be physical, too.
TIP TIME INFORMATION
TIPOFF: 6 p.m. Central
TELEVISION: SEC Network+
RADIO: Tiger Radio Network
THE BOTTOM LINE
This is going to be tough game for No. 11 Missouri (17-2, 5-1 SEC), especially on the road against a Georgia (17-2, 5-1) team that continues to dominate this season. It begins a tough stretch of games for the Tigers, so a win is crucial tonight. Missouri plays at No. 9 South Carolina on Sunday and welcomes No. 2 Mississippi State to Mizzou Arena next week. If the Tigers can win two out of these next three, they’re going to be set up well for the postseason. It starts with Georgia, though, and Missouri will need to win every single possession.
PREDICTION: Missouri 67, Georgia 64
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Amber Smith has been consistent and useful the past few games, but Georgia is going to give her an opportunity to be on fire. The Bulldogs are going to force the Tigers to be as versatile on offense as they can be to get shots up, and no one is more versatile than Smith. She’ll put up 20 or more tonight.
