In the first year of new coach Kellie Harper, Mizzou women’s basketball is off to a strong start at the conclusion of non-conference play. The Tigers are 12-3, their best start since the 2022-23 season. In addition, this has come with a tougher schedule, finishing the slate with a 2-2 record against power opponents.
Here’s what we have learned about this year’s Mizzou team thus far and what’s next heading into SEC play.
Let it Fly
What has stood out the most when watching this Tigers team is both the offensive
volume and consistency. Currently, Mizzou is averaging 76.9 points per game, up from 68.6 a season ago. Thus far, the team has scored 80 points on six separate occasions and have a 5-1 record in such games.
This offensive prowess has come from all three facets of the game, as the Tigers rank in the top 35 in the country in field goal, three-point and free throw percentage. The team’s best strength is both from the three-point line (39%) and free throw percentage (81%), both which ranked 8th nationally when this graphic was created last week.
The duo of Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell have led the charge, combining for an average of 35.8 points per game. Earlier this month I wrote about the addition of Dowell to the team and what makes these two as a duo so special.
Both Dowell and Slaughter have been extremely efficient, hanging right around the team averages in all three categories while spearheading the offensive workload. Jayla Smith has been a model of efficiency for the Tigers as well, averaging 9.8 points on shooting splits of 55/49/93.
Add in Jordana Reisma, who is also averaging double-digits, and Mizzou has been able to overpower many of their mid-major opponents with offensive firepower. However, that has not been the only key to success for the Tigers thus far.
Fourth Quarter Control
Another big part of the success for this year’s team has been winning the fourth quarter. So far this season the Tigers have outscored their opponents in the final frame 11 times this year, and Mizzou holds a record of 10-1 in such games.
A perfect example came in the win against Cal, where the Tigers trailed 55-50 heading into the fourth quarter. Mizzou found that extra gear just in time, winning the fourth quarter 18-12 to secure the 68-67 victory with a last-second shot from Dowell.
These late game spurts have allowed Harper’s team to either separate or overtake their opponents. While a big fourth quarter has not been necessary in some of these blowouts, the games will become more competitive heading into SEC play. If Mizzou can keep things close against some of the best teams in the SEC (let alone the nation) heading into the final ten minutes, they are giving themselves a shot to secure some big-time wins and continue to build an NCAA-tournament caliber resume.
What to Improve: Limiting Turnovers
During the Robin Pingeton era, one of the Tigers’ biggest problems was turnovers. During the last year under Pingeton, Mizzou averaged 16 turnovers per game which led to easy points for opponents. Under Harper, the turnovers continue to be a work in progress. Through 15 games, Mizzou is averaging 15.7 turnovers this season. This in turn has led to an average 14.7 points for opponents off those miscues
Part of the problem is the new fast-paced offense Harper has implemented. This sort of quick-thinking, fast-acting style makes teams more dangerous on offense, but more susceptible to turning the ball over due to a miscommunication or a shuffling of the feet.
Another issue is the Tigers have been rolling out a starting lineup without a true point guard so far this season. With Averi Kroenke out for season and an injury limiting Saniah Tyler’s role, Harper has had to move around several pieces to help run the offense, including utilizing Dowell as the primary ballhandler. While she is not being utilized as a true point guard, Dowell’s abilities to create for herself or start the action in transition has kept the offense running smoothly. However, this has contributed to the spike in turnovers, as the ball has spent less time in the hands of a truly elite ball-handler. With Dowell now bit by the injury bug as well — she’s been sporting a walking boot the past two games — fans will again have to see the Tigers adjust.
The final responsible party I would say is time. A key part of this first year is the high volume of new members on the roster. With this understanding, the team has been working to get acquainted with one another as fast as possible. But that process still takes time, no matter how good the players or coaches may be. There have been moments where you can tell that players appear unsure of their role within the offense or how to best find one another. However, there has been continuous improvement throughout the year, as both the game plan and the players themselves have become more comfortable alongside one another.
What’s Next?
While this strong non-conference was a big first step in year one under Kellie Harper, the toughest test lies ahead. The SEC as a whole has had an incredible non-conference season, with no team currently ranked outside the top 100 of the NET. As a result, wins will be nowhere as easy to come by.
Coming Soon: I am working on a piece that will explore exactly what Harper and Co. should expect heading into conference play that will be released later this week. The Tigers dive headfirst into SEC play when they host No. 1 Texas at 6:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day from Mizzou Arena.
