Missouri women's basketball set for exhibition opener

Missouri women's basketball begins the season with an exhibition game against Truman State on Tuesday night. Mizzou held its media day last week and PowerMizzou.com spoke with a number of the players.

Ashton Judd- Junior guard (2023-24 statistics: 11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Q: Continuing to be a leader on this team, especially as a junior, one of the longest tenured tigers, what does it sort of mean to you to represent Mizzou, and has it really sunk in for you yet?

AJ: "I think it has. I don't know if I've told you, but I grew up watching Mizzou like a dream school. I grew up watching Coach Pingeton and players like Sophie Cunningham come through the program and be so successful. So it means a lot to be able to represent and, you know, wear Mizzou across my chest. I am a Missouri kid, so my family is able to come to most, if not all, of the whole game. So it's nice to see them up in the stands cheering me on, being so close, and just representing the state as a whole."

Q: You've got a bunch of new players coming in, trying to bring them into the system. What would you say are the Missouri values that really define this team you're trying to teach to everyone?

AJ: "Outside of our core values, which I'm sure you all know by now, I think we've really been working on just accountability being able to take accountability for things that happen on the court. Everybody's kind of been able to grasp, like little aspects of that leadership role, because I feel like having so many personalities, we have a lot of different voices on the team. I don't think it's over like one set person that's, you know, speaking at different times, speaking in different situations. There's that aspect, the work ethic that everybody's able to bring in. You see everybody coming in on their off days, putting up shots and taking care of their body. So I think just the work ethic piece of it is a lot different this year."

Q: For you personally, last season it was very clear that you were on everyone's scouting report. You were constantly blitzed a lot as a player. What are you looking to do to kind of get more in your rhythm not only for scoring, but your efficiency?

AJ: "Just letting the game come to me, I think some of the times I get myself in trouble is trying to force actions and maybe force my shot a little bit. Just being able to play through the team, play team basketball, is the way that I'm gonna get the best shots for me and also get the best shots for the team, and overall, just up the efficiency of the team and get the most out of the possessions that we're allowed."

Q: "Coming into this season with all the new players being added, does that benefit the practice environment coming into this season especially with how last season ended?

AJ: "We brought in a lot of different personalities, but outside of that, we've brought in a lot of talent, so it's made practices a lot more competitive. Everybody's willing to do whatever it takes to win. That's what we need going into a new season. I'm really excited for all the newcomers this year, and I'm excited for just what we're going to be able to offer this year. It''s going to be a lot different just having a whole new team."

Tionna Herron- Sophomore center (2023-24 statistics: 1.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.1 apg)

Q: Do you feel like you approached the college recruitment process differently than when you were in high school?

TH: "In high school, I didn't, I mean, yeah, I was taking my time until COVID hit. Everybody started committing. Everybody started committing. It was, well, dang, what if my spot gets taken? So that's when I just hurried up into my process. When I look back at it, I really wish I would have taken my time. I love the coaches of Kentucky, honestly, it felt right in the moment, but I should have sat and did more thinking instead of rushing my commitment like everybody else did."

Q: When did the nickname Tree first come about for you?

TH: "When I was in middle school, sixth grade, we had security guards. One of them would call me tree and my best friend, like snake or something. I don't remember, but he called my high school coaches and was like, you know, because me and my teammates, we all went to the same middle school, we ended up going to high school too. Yeah, you know, we made something happen there. So he was like, you know, we gotta check out these kids, one of them's named tree. That's how they just started calling me tree."

Q: With all the new players coming, including yourself, how has that made the overall practice environment in terms of just maybe the intensity of play?

TH: "Having new players being more competitive, it's really good, like a good environment. Everybody's competitive, everybody's competing., everybody wants to get the same goal, everybody wants to get further as a team."

Hilke Feldrappe - Sophomore power forward (2023-24 statistics: 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.7 apg)

Q: When you look at last season, what did you like from an individual standpoint?

HF: Coming from Europe, it's definitely different to come here to play U.S.A basketball, so kind of getting adjusted to that and playing against, like, really difficult players, and, like, kind of seeing how you compete against them. That was something I did in the first season, like getting better and getting adjusted."

Q: What are some differences that you noticed from a European style of basketball to an American style of basketball?

HF: "The main difference was that I played with much more experienced players back at home, because I had like, 30 year old teammates, right? Yeah, playing with people at my age that are more athletic, maybe, and stronger, more physical, but less experienced. So that's what changes the game. I feel like in Europe, it was more, I don't want to call it smarter basketball, but definitely different than here, where it's more like athleticism and physicality."

Q: Individually, what goals do you have for yourself this season?

HF: "Get even more comfortable last season. I wouldn't say I was struggling with my confidence, but like, still finding where I stand, I guess, so I just want to work in that form, or, like, get even more comfortable here.

Q: Who were some of your basketball idols, or the players that you look up to, and try to take things from?

HF: "Growing up, my idol was Satou Sabally, she's playing for the Dallas Wings, she's from Berlin, Germany. She was playing for my old club, just a female basketball player I've always been able to look up to, and also her sister, who just got to become a WNBA champ. She's always been someone close in my environment, could look up to and like seeing them being successful right now."

Grace Slaughter-sophomore guard (2023-24 statistics: 11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Q: What has the preseason process been like?

GS: "It's been a blast. Even though we've had long practices, I just think we've all grown as a team, in areas that we've been focusing on, and individually as well.. While getting to play against our scout team has been fun, I think we're all kind of ready to like to play someone different at this point."

Q: Coach Pingeton mentioned physicality is an identity for the team as a whole, how have you seen that shown through in these practices that you've had over the summer?

GS: "That's been something I've even focused on individually, is just being okay with taking more contact and being able to finish through it, or just use it to your advantage, if that's what the defense is really focusing on. We've all just gotten used to the fact that the baseline of the SEC is physical. There's gonna be hands on you, and you're gonna have to fight through it either way. Practices have done a good job of implementing that."

Q: Coming in as a freshman last year, with your standout season, you're on the scouting report. Teams are gonna be looking out for you. What's the best way that you and coach and the rest of the team have been doing to try to counteract that?

GS: "Coming in and it being your second year, you feel a little bit more calm. You feel a little bit more just like kind of in the flow of things, and kind of understood what to expect with practices and different things like that. That gives me a sense of calmness, but also, I think, a little bit more just the ability to play freely, almost, I feel more comfortable with the plays this year. On top of that, I've really been trying to grow a midrange game. Trying to get a mid range I think will be beneficial, because just in women's basketball, a high percentage of shots are at the rim or the three point-line."

Q: What does this explosion of women's basketball in the last couple years mean to you, and how can you kind of try and bring that to Mizzou?

GS: "It's been so amazing, and I think it's rightly deserved for women's basketball. I'm so excited about it. We've been seeing growth at the college level and the WNBA. I think it's just exciting for that attention we've got there, and then, moreover, just trying to bring it to Mizzou as well. We've always had really supportive fans, which is fun, but just doing, you know, a little bit more to try to get some more people in the stands."

De'Myla Brown-sophomore guard (2022-23 statistics: 5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

Q: Last year you didn't get the chance to play, but you were learning the system. Do you think being out helped you to be ready to kind of take on this role this year?

DB: "It definitely has. It made me take a new perspective on the game, and made me realize how much I love the game, and just taking that step back and sitting and watching just allowed me to see some things that I maybe wouldn't if I was on the court, and to step into a different type of leadership role. If I'm not able to prove by example, I'm able to lead them a different way and help the team win, even if I can't suit up or step on the floor."

Q: How have you been able to kind of use some of that leadership and your experience in college basketball, both at Mizzou and in other places to teach the younger players on your teams?

DB: "I just teach them just to enjoy the process and to work hard. And you know, if something doesn't go right or go your way, just keep working at it, and be where your feet are, and control what you can control. Those are the best things that I've been able to teach them, because it's something that I'm continuing to work on now, and that I've learned over the years, that you know, as long as you put in the work, the game will reward you."

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