Missouri women not letting injuries deter them

Missouri's Sierra Michaelis drives around Texas guard Ariel Atkins during an NCAA Tournament second-round game earlier this year in Austin, Texas. Michaelis is one of four seniors on Missouri's roster this season.
Missouri's Sierra Michaelis drives around Texas guard Ariel Atkins during an NCAA Tournament second-round game earlier this year in Austin, Texas. Michaelis is one of four seniors on Missouri's roster this season.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Bri Porter awkwardly pivoted her left knee running a half-court drill.

It was a non-contact workout the Missouri women's basketball team ran last week in training camp, yet the odd motion of her left knee still was enough to tear her left ACL. It was the fifth time Porter tore an ACL, and the second time in her left knee.

Head coach Robin Pingeton called it a potentially career-ending injury for the sophomore forward. She is the second Missouri women's basketball player to tear her ACL before the season, the other senior forward Jordan Frericks.

"Obviously really disappointed and heartbroken for Jordan Frericks and her ACL injury and then on top of that in the last week we had Bri Porter go down with an ACL as well," Pingeton said Tuesday. "Two big loses for those two and my heart aches for them, they've invested a lot."

Frericks lead the team in offensive and defensive rebounds, steals and blocks, and was second in points last season. Porter was one of the Tigers' top bench players.

The Tigers finished 22-10 and 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference with both healthy. They made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006, and won their first tournament game since 2001. Despite the injuries, Pingeton's goals are the same for Missouri, and that is building on last year's breakout.

"I want to make it very clear expectations for this season have not changed and it's an opportunity for people to step up," Pingeton said. "I have a feeling that it's going to be a hard road ahead of us, but we're looking forward and embracing it and I think this could be a fantastic year for us and we're looking forward to building on the success of last year."

Missouri is returning last season's SEC Freshman of the Year and leading scorer Sophie Cunningham. The sophomore guard was a McDonald's All-American at Rock Bridge High School and rated as high as the 14th best recruit of her class.

While she lived up to her lofty reputation last season, Cunningham will be expected to help carry the Tigers even more so this season.

"I think Sophie spent a lot of time in being able to create in one-on-one situations, in the shot clock, creating the shot for herself and I think just the experience she has under her belt," Pingeton said, "it seems like she's certainly playing just as well as she ever has. But I think she has a better understanding not getting into foul trouble, she's not forcing things, she never has, she has a high basketball IQ and really all facets of our game have improved with just having a season under her belt."

Pingeton added Cunningham is likely to see time at both of the guard and forward spots, and said she could probably even play center if she needed too. Missouri will try to replace Frericks' production by committee, and with Frericks out, that could lead to more teams focusing on Cunningham.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

"We're going to have a great year, I have stuff to work on as well," Cunningham said. "Teams are going to be focusing more on me this year, but that's just going to open up other people so I'm not worried about it."

Among the other options for Missouri is Sophie Cunningham's older sister Lindsey Cunningham, and Bri Porter's younger sister Cierra Porter. The trio have had years building chemistry together.

The two Cunninghams have been teammates for the better part of their playing careers, and Sophie Cunningham has been teammates with Cierra Porter since their days at Rock Bridge.

"I think the sky's the limit for us, and we want to get back to that same spot and go even further," Lindsey Cunningham said. "We're not satisfied and, like I said, even with some people going down we're still trying to get to that same place."

Cierra Porter is still recovering from a surgery in April to repair a Lisfranc injury and is not at full speed, though Pingeton expects her back before Missouri begins conference play Jan. 1. Until then, the Tigers are changing up their style of play.

While the 6-foot-4 Porter is recovering, Missouri could play more small ball and overall faster. Lindsey Cunningham added she wants to be more aggressive offensively in that stretch.

Pingeton singled out freshman forward Amber Smith and redshirt freshman forward Hannah Schuchts as players who have stood out so far in practice and could pick up the slack while Porter is recovering.

Missouri was picked to finish eighth in the SEC in a preseason media poll announced Tuesday. Pingeton was surprised by the low ranking initially, though said it was likely caused by the injury bug biting the Tigers.

"You can use it for really good bulletin board material and you could spin it any way you want," Pingeton said, "and we'll do that as a coaching staff."