Mizzou women’s basketball looks to start fresh in new month

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou women's basketball team has suffered six straight SEC losses to end January, but a new opportunity for a fresh start starts Thursday as the Tigers get set to host Vanderbilt.

Head coach Robin Pingeton said after the last loss against Kentucky that her team needs to win six of the next seven to make the NCAA tournament. Her mentality remains the same ahead of the matchup with the Commodores.

"If you want to get to the NCAA Tournament, we've got to have a really big February," Pingeton said. " At the same time, I think it's important that we approach each game like it's our tournament game. The alertness, the grittiness and the toughness that we've got to approach it with has got to be on point in this time of the year because everyone's fighting for the same thing."

Vanderbilt was on a seven game losing streak, but that came to an end Sunday with a win over Texas A&M.

"Vandy's had a couple tough losses, but there record is deceiving," Pingeton said. "They're going to come in and be on a mission to write their ship too."

Pinegton also applauded the leadership shown through the losing streak by some of her veteran players.

"I think we're at a point where we kind of collectively think that, you know enough talking we have to put our money where our mouth is and put all that into action," said senior guard Haley Troup.

Through the stretch, senior guard Lauren Hansen has been struggling to get shots to fall. She said working through the slump comes in two parts.

"I know that I've put work in so it's just remembering what I've been through and how I've gotten through it before," Hansen said. "At the same time just focus on other things and let the game come to you. Just trust that it will fall when it's supposed to fall."

Mizzou will host Vanderbilt Thursday at 8 p.m.