Mizzou women’s basketball rides 9-2 start into rivalry game

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou women's basketball team continues to find ways to win.

It isn't always pretty, they don't always play their best, but the team is finding ways to put marks in the win column in head coach Kellie Harper's debut season in Columbia.

The Tigers are 9-2 to start her first season at the helm, riding a five-game winning streak into the part of the schedule where things are starting to ramp up. On Wednesday, MU will begin a stretch of four non-conference games that will lead them straight into the gauntlet that is the Southeastern Conference.

Illinois will kickoff that final stretch of non-conference, when the Fighting Illini come to Mizzou Arena on Wednesday night.

"I mean, they are really physically tough and there's no doubt they get that from their coach. She's got that personality and her teams come out and play with with a great intensity on both ends of the court. That that to me is, why they're so good," Harper said. "They also have the skill, they have the ability to score in the paint, they can shoot, they can guard, but to me, it's the toughness that that wins those battles that are close."

You can watch the full press conference with Harper in the video player below.

Mizzou will roll into Wednesday night's game off of not-so-pretty win over SIUE, on Sunday. Simply put, Coach Harper said that her team did not bring enough energy into that game, adding it was like pulling teeth to get it out of them. However, despite an off shooting night and defense that left something to be desired at the start, MU - once again- found a way.

Coach Harper said that those kinds of experiences all add up.

"It's like you're putting money in the bank, right? We're gonna have to take some of that out on Wednesday. You know, the things that we have learned and the experiences that we've had give you confidence, whether it's a close game or the physicality or playing through adversity," she said. "When, when things don't look pretty out there on the court, playing ugly, finding a way to win. I think every time we do those things and we come out positively, it's been great for our team. We've been able to play through, so hopefully, you know, the experiences that we've had this year should be building our confidence."

Mizzou will tip off against Illinois at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Mizzou Arena.