Mizzou poised for showdown with Lipscomb, seeking fifth straight win

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Women's Basketball has reached the home stretch of non-conference play.

MU is tipping off the first of its final three non-conference games of the season on Sunday evening, welcoming Lipscomb to Mizzou Arena.

Entering this contest, the Tigers have won eight of their last nine games, including four straight victories, dating back to the the finale of Emerald Coast Classic against Wichita State. The program has recovered nicely from its slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, which included losses to Vermont and Norfolk State, and head coach Robin Pingeton has witnessed plenty of growth within her team over the course of non-conference action.

"I think our team has come a long way since the beginning of the year when we opened up at Vermont. I think we have had some growing pains, but we've also had some great stretches of some really good basketball," Pingeton said at Friday's press conference. "I think we're in a place of just trying to get better every day. We know what's in front of us, starting with Lipscomb but also kind of getting closer to SEC play and we've got a lot of things we need to continue to sure up on. But, it's a group of young ladies that is very like-minded in what we're trying to get done and understand the work ethic that has to go into every day."

You can watch the full press conference with Coach Pingeton, Averi Kroenke and Nyah Wilson in the video player above.

The Tigers introduced fans to a new-look identity this season, playing an intense, defense-first style of basketball. MU's fresh mindset has helped lead the team to its 9-3 record and make strides defensively. Mizzou currently has the No. 9-ranked scoring defense in the SEC and has held its opponents to 32.3 rebounds per game, which is sixth-best in the conference.

"I just think we play with a lot of toughness. I think we've been gritty. I think we've really taken a lot of pride on the defensive side of the ball, which is a little bit different than what we have in the past, and I think we've got a lot of players that have the ability to score the ball, so there's a lot of options. I think our biggest challenge was how do we put the pieces of the puzzle together and play as one," Pingeton said. "We've got players that have the ability to put up a lot of points and how do we get the best shot for our team. I think that takes time when you have so many new players, and I think they've, over the last month, have kind of learned a little bit more on what that needs to look like, how to keep that ball hot and create opportunities for each other."

Lipscomb is the only team standing in Mizzou's way of capturing its longest winning streak of the season. The ASUN Conference member have lost two straight contests to Belmont and Chattanooga, following a stretch where the team won six straight games. The Bisons have also played just one Power Four program this season, which ended in a 52-point loss to Vanderbilt. Regardless of Lipscomb's recent struggles, Coach Pingeton recognizes the talent her team's opponent possesses.

"They can all shoot it well. I think they create some matchup challenges when you play with a traditional five, and they play with five on the perimeter, similar to how we kind of played last year. They have a high IQ, their ability to read their screening action, put each other in situations to just capitalize on some miscommunication defensively," Pingeton said. "It's really going to be important that we are connected defensively in our communication and how we defend some of their screening actions."

Mizzou is scheduled to face Lipscomb on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.