COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball continued its hot streak, topping No. 25 Kentucky, 73-67, at Mizzou Arena on Monday evening. The victory was the fifth straight for the Tigers, their longest streak in conference play since joining the SEC. Mizzou has now won four consecutive games over ranked opponents at home, dating back to last season. The Tigers improve to 16-7 overall and 6-3 in SEC play, moving in to a tie for third place in the league.
A host of Tigers led the way for Mizzou, as four players scored in double digits. Freshman guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) filled up the stat sheet with an impressive evening, scoring 15 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG) and hauling in a career-high eight rebounds. Smith’s performance follows up her stellar game against Auburn when she poured in 13 points on 85.7 percent shooting.
Senior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) led all Tiger scorers with 19 points, nine of which came from behind the arc. Additionally, sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) and sophomore forward Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) were both effective, notching 14 points and 17 points, respectively. Porter sunk a career-high 11 free throws on Monday, making all 11 of her attempts.
The contest went back and forth in the early going, as both teams traded baskets. Mizzou trailed by three when senior guard Lindsey Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) went on a personal 6-0 run, hitting back to back threes to give the Tigers a three-point lead. Mizzou attacked the glass in the opening frame, pulling in five offensive rebounds in the first quarter, including two by Smith. After one, Mizzou held a 15-14 lead.
In the second frame, the Tigers went a 7-0 run which was punctuated by a triple from Michaelis. The bucket gave Mizzou a 24-18 lead with 6:49 left in the half. Minutes later, after a Wildcat scoring spurt, Smith continued her all-around evening, drilling a three from the left wing to give Mizzou a 27-23 advantage. After Kentucky surged in front, Smith drained another trey from the same spot with 55 seconds left in the half to give Mizzou the lead back. Kentucky answered with a jumper and the Tigers trailed 31-30 at halftime.
The second half scoring was opened by a Michaelis triple from the right corner to give Mizzou a two-point lead less than three minutes into the third quarter. Minutes later, with the game knotted at 35, Michaelis knocked home a jumper to beat the shot clock after a scramble for a loose ball. Following a small run by the Wildcats, the senior guard slashed to the basket and converted another big bucket on a possession that was extended by a Sophie Cunningham offensive board. Two possessions later, Sophie Cunningham rolled in a tricky scoop layup with time winding down to give the Tigers a 48-45 lead at the end of the third.
After both teams traded buckets to start the final period, Smith made two gritty plays in the paint, one an offensive board and put back, and the other an inside layup. The two buckets gave Mizzou a 54-49 lead and forced a Kentucky timeout. Down the stretch, Mizzou’s free throw shooting proved to be vital. The Tigers converted on their first seven free throws of the fourth quarter. Mizzou made 20-of-24 attempts at the free throw line (83.3 percent) on Monday.
Mizzou’s first miss at the charity stripe in the fourth quarter was hauled in by Sophie Cunningham and the sophomore put it back up and in to give Mizzou a nine-point lead with 4:35 left. Following a Wildcat bucket, Cunningham struck again – this time converting a three-point play to push the Mizzou lead to double digits. The lead was a large enough cushion to hold off the Wildcats, as the Tigers claimed a six-point victory.
The win marked Mizzou’s first victory over Kentucky as a member of the SEC. Mizzou has now beaten every SEC team at least once since joining the league.
Next on the slate for the Tigers is a matchup on the road with No. 5 Mississippi State on Sunday. Tip is set for 1:30 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —