Kentucky versus Missouri WBB Pregame Preview

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This Sunday’s game between the Missouri Tigers (11-7) and Kentucky Wildcats (8-10) at Rupp Arena is an important game for Coach Kyra Elzy and her team. Coming off an embarrassing loss to number one ranked South Carolina it will be key to the remaining last couple of the months to the season. The Tigers are listed as a small favorite in the game so it will be crucial for the Cats to handle the game at home, where they are 8-2 on the season. The game will start at 2:00 PM ET on January 21.

Back on the home court Sunday.

🆚 Missouri
🏛️ Rupp Arena
⌚️ 2 p.m. ET
💜 We Back Pat
🎟️ Sold at door or https://t.co/soMtmbAb6K ($8+)#GoBIgBlue pic.twitter.com/VXaEE4sYdM
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) January 19, 2024

Kentucky vs. Missouri Game Info

When: Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET
Where: Rupp Arena in Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Kentucky Schedule Analysis

The Wildcats took down the Arkansas Razorbacks (Top 50) in a 73-63 win on January 4 — their best victory of the season.
The Wildcats have tied for the sixth-most Quadrant 1 losses in the country (six).
Kentucky has tied for the 37th-most Quadrant 2 defeats in the nation (three).

One more day until gameday. 🙏

GAME PREVIEW ≫ https://t.co/90tqADOMQT pic.twitter.com/WIFKYDjzta
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) January 20, 2024

Kentucky 2023-24 Best Wins

73-63 at home over Arkansas (No. 42) on January 4
83-81 at home over Boston College (No. 89) on November 30
87-80 at home over Lipscomb (No. 156) on December 21
74-66 at home over East Tennessee State (No. 165) on November 7
73-67 at home over Tennessee Tech (No. 207) on December 3

Kentucky Leaders

Ajae Petty: 15.7 PTS, 10.9 REB, 1.3 STL, 55.8 FG%
Maddie Scherr: 14.5 PTS, 1.6 STL, 35.6 FG%, 31.4 3PT% (22-for-70)
Eniya Russell: 8.3 PTS, 42.1 FG%, 22.2 3PT% (4-for-18)
Brooklynn Miles: 6.2 PTS, 1.2 STL, 41.4 FG%, 13.6 3PT% (3-for-22)
Saniah Tyler: 9.5 PTS, 31.3 FG%, 32.4 3PT% (34-for-105)

Emma King used to dream of playing in a Kentucky jersey. Now she’s got just a short time left in her final year. I sat down with Emma to talk about her choice to return this season, her most influential teammates and more. @KentuckyWBB @Emma_King34 https://t.co/2DsgUU9I78
— Caroline Makauskas (@cmakauskas) January 19, 2024

Kentucky Performance Insights

The Wildcats’ -141 scoring differential (being outscored by 7.8 points per game) is a result of scoring 65.3 points per game (187th in college basketball) while allowing 73.1 per contest (326th in college basketball).
With 62.8 points per game in SEC action, Kentucky is putting up 2.5 fewer points per game in conference games compared to its overall average (65.3 PPG).
The Wildcats are posting 73.8 points per game in home games. Away from home, they are averaging 53.5 points per contest.
Defensively, Kentucky has been better at home this season, ceding 68.5 points per game, compared to 79.3 when playing on the road.
On offense, the Wildcats have increased their production a little bit over their last 10 games, scoring 67.6 points per contest over that span as opposed to the 65.3 they’ve racked up over the course of this year.

Missouri Schedule Analysis

In their signature win of the season on January 14, the Tigers defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores, a top 50 team by a score of 65-63.
The Tigers have tied for the 24th-most Quadrant 1 victories in the country (two).

Good morning, Tigers! 🐯 pic.twitter.com/kJJ8qmgVUO
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) January 19, 2024

Missouri 2023-24 Best Wins

65-63 on the road over Vanderbilt (No. 39) on January 14
72-61 at home over Belmont (No. 66) on November 6
69-66 on the road over Illinois (No. 73) on December 17
69-57 at home over Georgia (No. 84) on January 18
81-63 at home over Missouri State (No. 124) on December 6

Missouri Leaders

Hayley Frank: 16.9 PTS, 47.1 FG%, 38.0 3PT% (41-for-108)
Mama Dembele: 9.6 PTS, 6.9 AST, 3.4 STL, 42.6 FG%, 29.2 3PT% (7-for-24)
Ashton Judd: 13.6 PTS, 42.4 FG%, 32.2 3PT% (28-for-87)
Grace Slaughter: 11.4 PTS, 49.4 FG%, 42.9 3PT% (24-for-56)
Abbey Schreacke: 7.9 PTS, 48.1 FG%, 41.4 3PT% (29-for-70)

Buckets and dimes 🪣 pic.twitter.com/aRQwl2DjPC
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) January 19, 2024

Missouri Performance Insights

The Tigers outscore opponents by 6.5 points per game (posting 75.1 points per game, 58th in college basketball, and giving up 68.6 per outing, 275th in college basketball) and have a +117-scoring differential.
In 2023-24, Missouri has averaged 65.4 points per game in SEC play, and 75.1 overall.
The Tigers score 79.3 points per game at home, and 74.4 on the road.
In 2023-24 Missouri is giving up 18.5 fewer points per game at home (61.7) than away (80.2).
Over their previous 10 games, the Tigers are averaging 70.6 points per game, 4.5 fewer points than their season average (75.1).

The Wildcats need to shore up sloppy passing and unforced turnovers to improve on the season. In this game it is going to be imperative for them to defend the three-point line much better, as the Tigers have three players shooting 38% or better from behind the arc. Maddie Scherr and Ajae Petty and the team need better shooting percentages for themselves to be able to find some wins in the remaining tough SEC slate.

⛹️‍♀️WK4 | SEC Womens Basketball Weekly Awards

PLAYER: Ajae Petty@KentuckyWBB x #SECWBB pic.twitter.com/9nUegCinNP
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) December 5, 2023

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