Preview: Women's Basketball Takes on Missouri for Second-Straight Season

Season Highlights

The Roos prepare for arguably their biggest non-conference home games of the season, hosting Missouri in the Swinney Center on Sunday prior to a home game at Municipal Auditorium against Kansas State next Saturday.
Kansas City finishes returns from its longest road stretch of the season, having gone 1-2 on the tour. The Roos now stand at 4-5 on the season.
For the first time on the year, Kansas City is coming off of back-to-back losses, falling to nationally ranked Missouri State before dropping a close match in Omaha.
After posting a Top-25 scoring offense last season, the Roos are averaging 68.2 ppg to begin this season, which puts them 10 points out of the top 25.
The Roos are currently second in the WAC in field goal percentage and fourth in points per game, averaging 68.2 points on 41.0% shooting.
Kansas City leads the WAC and are 28th nationally in blocks per game (4.9), and four Roos currently rank top 10 in the WAC in blocks per game. This is unchartered territory for the Roos, as last year the team finished fifth in the conference, averaging 2.7.

Missouri Scouting Report

The Tigers returned eight players from last year's NCAA Tournament Second Round qualifying team, but have gotten off to a slow start this season, currently standing at 3-6.
Missouri lost Sophie Cunningham from last year's squad, who led the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game. Amber Smith, who led the team in rebounds last year, has stepped up in her absence. She is currently averaging 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
The Tigers are coming off of an impressive display against Saint Louis, where they defeated the Billikins 83-58. Four Tigers scored in double-digits and the team shot a blazing 12-of-18 from three point range.
The Roos and Tigers met last year for the first time since 2014, a 66-59 victory for Mizzou. Smith posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Tigers forced 18 Kansas City turnovers.
Emily Ivory (18) and Ericka Mattingly (20) teamed up for 38 of the Roos' 59 points in last year's game, shooting a combined 12-28 from the field.
After going into the half with a two-point edge, Missouri used a 21-9 third quarter to pull away. Kansas City outscored the Tigers 16-9 in the fourth quarter, but did not have enough to complete the comeback.
This is the first of back-to-back games against Power 5 teams for the Roos, the only two on their schedule.

University of Missouri Kansas City Athletics