How Ashton Judd earned the chance to lead the Missouri women's basketball offense in a pivotal stretch

It's time for Missouri women's basketball to workshop its resume.

In a pivotal year, where the NCAA tournament is the bottom line gotta-have-it goal for Robin Pingeton, the month of December could prove crucial.

The Tigers started December 2-0 after beating in-state rival Missouri State 81-63 at Mizzou Arena on Wednesday behind a stellar game from two southern Missouri natives. One, in particular, is ready to take the mantle of MU's best offensive player.

Ashton Judd, playing against her father's alma mater, dropped 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in another performance that proved she is ready to be Missouri's go-to offensive player.

Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton said Judd's improvement this season is due to the work she's put in during the offseason.

That work spans hours of rigorous workouts multiple times a day.

"It goes back to her work," Pingeton said. "It is quite a big jump from this year to last year."

Judd's offense has carried MU at times through 10 games this season.

She's scored 20 points or more four times, and in double digits in all but one game. Judd has also recorded three double-doubles.

The work Judd has put in this season is inspired by some of the experiences she endured as a freshman last season. In January, MU fell into a six-game losing streak. That stuck with Judd.

"We had a couple games build off of each other," Judd said before the season began on Oct. 24. "Being able to practice that and experience those bad times in practice and being able to let some of that stuff go and not letting it snowball into consecutive plays or consecutive losses us something big we put into play."

Now, Judd is skilled enough to be the focal point for Missouri's offense heading into games against Kansas State and Illinois where MU could be short-handed.

Pingeton said Angie Ngalakulondi is day-to-day with her wrist injury. That leaves Missouri down its starting center and reserve guard Averi Kroenke for an extended period.

Kroenke has been on a scooter nursing a right foot injury since the offseason. However Ngalakulondi's injury has a more defined timetable, and her day-to-day designation could mean she's back for key games against Kansas State and Illinois.

Getting through the non-conference slate while injured is difficult. Without Kroenke, it forced Abbey Schreake to pick up MU's backup point guard spot quickly, which is out of position for her. Schreake, to her credit, has played well in that role.

However, the loss of Ngalakulondi hurts MU's rebounding efforts. The graduate transfer from UMASS played extremely well for Missouri before her injury against Virginia.

She was playing her role in the loss to UVA so well, that it's fair to think Missouri could have won in regulation on the road if she wasn't injured.

If Ngalakulondi has to miss the Kansas State game on Saturday, Judd will play a bigger role in Missouri's rebounding efforts.

"She always wants to win no matter what," MU guard Mama Dembele said of Judd. "It's great to go out and compete with someone who wants it as much you want it."

Kansas State and Illinois represent two chances for Missouri to earn wins that can build toward a tournament resume. The Tigers proved they can play Power 5 teams tough on the road in how they took Virginia to overtime.

Judd can score on three levels. Her midrange offense has developed into a regular part of her offense to go along with her 3-point shooting and offensive drives.

If Judd can take the lead offensively, that opens up Hayley Frank and Grace Slaughter much more on the perimeter which gives them the option to shoot or drive to the basket.

Frank's offensive game works much better as a compliment to another player's lead, much like how she complimented Aijha Blackwell in the 2021-2022 season and earned All-SEC second-team honors.

Judd has earned the chance to lead.

The reason for that is simple. Judd has been working on it for months multiple times a day and Pingeton has taken notice. Now, with confidence in her game, Judd can lead Missouri to two important wins.

"When you want something, you've got to go work for it," Pingeton said. "She's done exactly that."

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Ashton Judd earned the chance to lead the Missouri women's basketball offense