CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball utilized a 24-5 third quarter outburst to lift itself to victory, 67-45, over Illinois on Friday afternoon in Champaign, Ill. Mizzou led by one at halftime, but came out of the locker room firing in the second half, shooting 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from the field and 55.3 percent from deep (5-for-9) to pull away from the Fighting Illini and claim victory. The win was Mizzou’s second consecutive win in the series between the two schools, and the first in Champaign since Jan. 3, 1993.

Junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) led all scorers with 16 points and pulled in a game-high nine rebounds in the victory. Freshman guard Akira Levy (Baxter, Tenn.) joined Smith in double figures for the Tigers, scoring a career-high 14 points to go along with three assists and two steals.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou led 27-26 at the intermission before opening the third period on a 20-2 run to extend its lead to 19 at 47-28 with 2:00 remaining in the quarter. Senior guard Sophie Cunningham(Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt senior guard Lauren Aldridge (Marshfield, Mo.) sparked the run for Mizzou, as the pair combined for 15 points with Cunningham draining three triples and Aldridge two threes. Mizzou would end the quarter with a 20-point lead at 51-31, as the Tigers shot 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from the field and 55.3 percent from deep (5-for-9) in the period. Illinois would never get closer than 18 after the Tigers’ run.

TOP TIGERS

• Smith led the team in scoring for the third time this season with 16 points while also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. The Tiger junior is now averaging 14.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season.
• Levy turned in a career-high with her 14 points, as she scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half. The Tiger freshman also had three assists and two steals in the game.
• Cunningham had nine points and four rebounds in the game, while also recording two assists and two steals.

NOTES

• Mizzou shot better than 45 percent from the field for the fifth time this season and for the second consecutive game as the Tigers shot 27-for-60 (45.0 percent) from the field.
• Levy scored a career-high 14 points in the game, besting her previous high of 11 which she reached twice this season (Nov. 13 vs. Missouri State, Dec. 9 at Saint Louis).
• Smith reached double figures for the sixth consecutive game and the 10^th time this season with 16 points. Mizzou is now 23-4 all-time when Smith scores in double figures.
• With 10 three-pointers made, Mizzou has now made 10 or more threes in five games this season. The Tigers have sank seven or more three-pointers in nine of their last 10 contests.
• Mizzou held the Fighting Illini to 45 points in the game, the second-lowest point-total the Tigers have allowed this season, trailing only the 36 points Mizzou allowed to SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 19. Mizzou has now held its opponents to 65 points or less in 11 or 13 games this season

UP NEXT

Mizzou will now have an eight-day break before returning to the court on Sunday, Dec. 30 where the Tigers will host Arkansas State. Tipoff from Mizzou Arena is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —