Mizzou women’s basketball dealing with travel issues after holiday break

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou women's basketball team has had an extra challenge added onto its SEC play preparations as a few players are struggling to get back to Columbia.

"When you have international players there's an importance of allowing that space for them to get home," Pingeton said. "We were without three last night in practice. We had two that got in late last night and still waiting on one."

Watch the full interview with Coach Pingeton in the player below.

Pingeton did not specify which players are having travel issues. The two players on the roster that live out of the country are Sara Rose-Smith and Mama Dembele.

On the other hand, the Tigers have its first SEC game quickly approaching as the Kentucky Wildcats come to town on Thursday. Pingeton said the defense and ball security need to improve.

"There's going to be nights in the SEC where it's really hard to score the ball. It's an athletic league and a defensive league, but we have to rely on our ability to get stops," Pingeton said.

Pingeton also says that her experienced roster will play an advantage in conference play.

"Just knowing what you're going to go into night in and night out and know how teams play in the SEC and understanding the physicality of it," Pingeton said. "Any time you've got a handful of players that have been in the fires, it's huge to be able to rely on that game experience."

Mizzou will host Kentucky Thursday at 8 p.m.