Mizzou Central

Mizzou WBB Loses Exhibition to D-II School Ahead of Regular Season

The Tigers limped to the finish line in upset to Maryville in Kellie Harper's debut.
Brady Shanahan|
Jan 30, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Grace Slaughter (0) looks to pass the ball while defended by Texas Longhorns guard Shay Holle (10) during the second half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Jan 30, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Grace Slaughter (0) looks to pass the ball while defended by Texas Longhorns guard Shay Holle (10) during the second half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Missouri women's basketball took the floor at Mizzou Arena for the first time ahead of the 2025-2026 season. This marked the first matchup of the Kellie Harper era since replacing longtime coach Robin Pingeton in March.

Harper's debut didn't go quite as planned. An ice-cold shooting start and poor defensive rotations were the downfall, as Maryville upset Missouri in overtime, 90-84.

An injury scare to your key transfer portal addition and going to an overtime loss against a Division II opponent is not the ideal way to reignite a program, but the regular season is yet to start, and SEC competition is months away. But as of now, it looks like Harper and her squad have a lot of work to do.

Missouri's top returning scorer, junior guard Grace Slaughter, had the opportunity to take the lead late at the free-throw line, but split her two attempts, tying the game and allowing the extra period in which the Saints held on for the win.

Slaughter was one of three players in double figures. She totaled a game-high 25 points and was joined by transfer portal additions, senior forward Jordana Reisma from Cleveland State and junior guard Shannon Dowell from Illinois State. Reisma totaled 23 points and 11 boards while Dowell added 19 points and 9 rebounds before fouling out in overtime.

Slaughter, Dowell, and Reisma made up three-fifths of the starting lineup, while returning junior guards Averi Kroenke and Abee Schreacke rounded out the starters.

After the game, Harper recalled one other instances of losing an exhibition to a Division II opponent. It happened to be her final season coaching at Missouri State. She ended the year by coaching the Bears to the Sweet 16.

The official start to the season will tipoff against Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Mizzou Arena.

Notes from Missouri's loss

  • It was evident that Jordana Reisma, the senior transfer from Cleveland State, would play a significant role in Missouri's production on both sides of the ball. Reisma will be the Tigers' de facto big. She averaged 14.5 points per game on the nation's best efficiency at a .677 rate from the field.
  • Midway through the fourth quarter, Reisma went down with a leg injury and had to be helped off the floor, putting no weight on the limb, but later returned to close out the game. Moments after checking back in, Reisma drilled a three-pointer to tie the game with under two minutes remaining in regulation.
  • Junior guard Grace Slaughter is expected to take a leap in production this season after averaging 15 points per game a year ago. She is among the top sharpshooters in the country after sinking her triples at a .459 rate in the 2024-2025 season. She got going with an early three, but she consistently made her presence known in the paint.
  • On offense, Slaughter displayed a knack for getting to the basket. She tied the game at the free-throw line with 10 seconds remaining in regulation, but it was not enough to stop the Saints.
  • Efficiency woes were on display throughout the exhibition. Harper has emphasized a desire to play fast and a willingness to push the pace, but shot-making may come at a cost. In the first half, Missouri shot a horrid 10-40 from the field. The team settled down after the break and shot over 50% in the second half, but still only managed a 3-30 shooting clip from three o.

"We are not going to win a lot of game sgoing three for thrirty from the three-point line," Harper said. "We shot a lot of quick threes that were not in rhythm."

  • A central question entering the matchup was point guard play and who would step into primary playmaking duties. Well, not many plays were being made, and the question remains unanswered. Kroenke, Dowell and Schreacke seem to be the most viable options, but Slaughter and Lisa Thompson each also shared possession of taking the ball up the court. Kroenke is the Tigers' returning assist leader from a year ago, averaging three assists per game. Against Marville, Missouri, the team only totaled eight assists.

I'm ready to do what the team needs," Slaughter said. "If that means I've got to bring the ball up or got to play the five, I'm ready."

  • Aside from Reisma, Dowell was the strongest out of the group of eight newcomers. She excelled at attacking the basket and drawing contact. Dowell made a habit of getting to the line and, most importantly, making her free throws. Dowell sank 9 of 11 from the line.
  • Pepperdine guard transfer Chloe Sotell appeared to be the primary offensive focus off the bench. She repeatedly went to her go-to step-back into a line-drive jump shot. Sotell found ways to get open with and without the ball in her hands, but the shot was not dropping against Maryville. She scored 7 points on 3-11 from the field.
  • The defense is a long way away. Missouri's tallest player, returning forward Hannah Linthacum, did not play, so Reisma and Slaughter were tasked with protecting the paint. The defense was shaky all around, but particularly struggled gaurding the thre. in the third quarter, Missouri allowed the Saints to drain 5-of-9 from long range while surrendering the lead in the third.

"As a coach, when you're sitting on the bench and you don't know which defense is going to be your best, it's a bad position to be in," Harper said.

  • Before the season, several Tigers emphasized a competitive edge. The Tigers showed a spark in the fourth quarter, tightening up on defense and stringing together just enough buckets to come back and send the game into overtime. Slaughter and Dowell scored 13 and 8 points in the fourth quarter, respectively.
  • Overtime was a struggle for the Tigers. They allowed a deep three to open up the extra frame. Missouri gave up 12 points to the Saints while scoring 6 itself.

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Brady Shanahan
BRADY SHANAHAN

Brady Shanahan is a journalism student at the University of Missouri, and covers baseball and softball for Missouri Tigers On SI. He's from the St. Louis area and has contributed to The Maneater student newspaper, Columbia Missourian, KOMU 8, and KCOU as a beat reporter.