BOYS
Lafayette 65 (2-2)
Platte County 62
Benton 61 (4-2)
Harrisonville 33
Stanberry 56
Bishop LeBlond 37 (1-4)
LIBERTY NORTH INVITATIONAL – 3RD PLACE GAME
Central 56 (6-1)
Shawnee Mission North 34
GIRLS
Lafayette 55 (3-1)
Platte County 39
Stanberry 61
Bishop LeBlond 20 (0-5)
LIBERTY NORTH INVITATIONAL – 3RD PLACE GAME
Central 30 (3-1)
Kearney 28
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball held on to beat Wichita State, 64-57, behind a strong second half and clutch outings from its seniors on Friday night. Mizzou improved to 8-3 on the season as the Tigers secured their 30th consecutive nonconference victory at home.
The Tigers were led by senior guards Lianna Doty (St. Louis, Mo.) and Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.), who both turned in excellent second-half performances to help the Tigers secure the victory. Doty posted a season-high 15 points, getting six of them at the foul line, which tied a career-high.
Michaelis racked up a career high nine steals while leading a stingy Tiger defense. The nine swipes are the most by any Southeastern Conference player in a single game this season. She’s one of four players in all of Division I to record that many in one contest. Michaelis added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists to fuel Mizzou.
Mizzou started the game with stout defense. Head coach Robin Pingeton’s squad held the Shockers scoreless over the first 4:33 of the game, forcing five straight misses out of the gate. However, Wichita State closed the quarter on a 14-5 run, and led 17-10 at the end of the opening frame.
Mizzou continued to clamp down defensively to weather the storm and held the Shockers to just four points in the entire second quarter. The Tigers forced 17 total turnovers on Friday. Michaelis closed the opening half with a steal and a layup to beat the buzzer. The momentum-changing play cut Mizzou’s deficit to one as the Tigers entered halftime trailing 21-20.
Pingeton’s squad came out of the break on fire as Mizzou made its first six shots of the second half, four of which were layups. The Tigers started the half on an 11-0 run, capped by a corner three from Lindsey Cunningham, to take a 31-21 lead. In the period, the Tigers stretched their lead to as much as 11 behind strong contributions from both sophomore forward Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) and Michaelis, who combined for 13 of Mizzou’s 26 points in the frame.
The Shockers battled back down the stretch and tied the game with 5:19 to go in the final quarter. Mizzou responded though, and regained the lead at the 4:42 mark on a big-time three-pointer from freshman guard Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.).
The Tigers and Shockers traded defensive stops until Michaelis nabbed her ninth steal of the night and found Doty on the break, who was fouled, and proceeded to knock down two clutch free throws. After the Shockers tied the game at 50, Mizzou rattled off seven straight points without allowing a single Wichita State basket.
Pingeton’s squad closed the game on a 14-7 run, using clutch free throws from Doty, Michaelis, and Cunningham, and buckets from Porter to ice the game.
With the win, the Tigers remain perfect against the Shockers, holding a 7-0 advantage in the all-time series.
Mizzou turns to a home matchup against UT-Martin on December 17. Tip off at Mizzou Arena is set for 11 a.m. CT.
— Mizzou Athletics —
LINCOLN, Neb. – The top-seeded Nebraska volleyball team kept its hopes of a repeat national title alive on Friday, rallying from a two-set deficit for a thrilling 3-2 win over 16th-seeded Penn State in front of 8,240 fans inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers, who never trailed by more than two at any point in the match, saw Penn State erase late leads in winning both the first and second sets by identical 25-23 margins. Nebraska’s dreams of a second straight national championship were nearly derailed in the third set, as the Nittany Lions used another late rally to earn two match points at 24-22. But the Huskers won the final four points of the third set and then won the fourth set, 25-19 before dominating the fifth set, 15-6.
With the win, the Huskers advanced to Saturday’s NCAA Regional Final, the 26th regional final appearance in school history. Nebraska (30-2) will take on Washington at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
In only her third NCAA Tournament match as a Husker, junior middle blocker Briana Holman paced four Huskers in double-figure kills with 17 kills, the highest total of her Nebraska career, while adding seven blocks. Senior twin sisters Amber and Kadie Rolfzen combined for 29 kills, with Amber pounding 15 kills and Kadie adding 14. Senior Andy Malloy finished with 13 kills for the Big Red. Kadie Rolfzen produced a double-double and tied senior libero Justine Wong-Orantes with 18 digs to lead Nebraska. Junior setter Kelly Hunter dished out a match-high 50 assists while adding 10 digs for her 10th double-double of the season.
Nebraska produced seven more kills than Penn State, while the Nittany Lions out-blocked the Huskers, 17-14.5. NU was bolstered by a season-high nine aces. Nebraska hit .256 in the match, while Penn State attacked at a .234 clip, becoming only the third opponent this season to hit above .225 against Nebraska. Outside hitters Ali Frantti and Simone Lee combined for 43 kills. Lee led the way with a match-high 22 kills, while Frantti totaled a season-high 21 kills, including 16 in the first two sets to help Penn State to the 2-0 lead.
Penn State ended its season with a 24-10 record. The thrilling win was Nebraska’s fifth straight victory over Penn State, and the Huskers third win over the Nittany Lions this season.
Set 1: Nebraska rallied from a 3-1 deficit to a 5-3 lead with big swings from Kadie Rolfzen and Malloy, as well as a Wong-Orantes ace. The Nittany Lions came right back to go ahead 6-5, keyed by three blocks early in the set. Nebraska went ahead 14-11 with a 4-0 run, which again came on the serve of Wong-Orantes. Amber Rolfzen set Kadie Rolfzen for a kill to make it 12-11, and a block by Amber Rolfzen and Malloy gave the Huskers the 14-11 lead. Penn State strung together a 3-0 run after the media timeout to even the set at 15-15 and force a Husker timeout. Malloy terminated the next rally, and an outstanding individual effort by Holman to get a ball over the net led to a two-point Husker lead at 18-16. With the set tied 19-19, the Nittany Lions served long and Holman posted her third kill for a 21-19 lead, and Penn State took a timeout. Simone Lee got a kill for Penn State on the next rally, but Kadie Rolfzen answered with a shot down the line. Three straight kills by Ali Frantti put Penn State ahead 23-22, and after Malloy tied the set, Frantti struck again for her ninth kill on 12 swings, giving PSU set point at 24-23. A solo block by Frantti ended the set in favor of Penn State, 25-23. Penn State’s .389 to .263 hitting advantage and 6-1 blocks advantage proved to be enough to give the Huskers their first set loss of the tournament.
Set 2: The Huskers came out of the gate to a 5-1 lead with kills from four different players. The lead increased to 7-2 after two attacking errors by Penn State, but the Nittany Lions won the next four rallies after a timeout to cut it to 7-6. A block by Haleigh Washington -Penn State’s ninth of the match – tied the set 8-8. Amber Rolfzen restored the Husker lead with a kill. Holman tacked on another one for an 11-9 lead. Penn State continued to bring the set level, but NU continued to answer as a kill by Malloy made it 14-13. Penn State committed a net violation to make it 15-13 Huskers, and an ace serve by Albrecht gave NU a 17-14 lead. After Penn State pulled within 17-16, Amber Rolfzen hammered an overpass. Holman and Kadie Rolfzen struck for kills, and then Holman blasted back another overdig for a 21-18 lead. A block by Kadie Rolfzen and Holman made it 22-19, but Frantti added two more kills to get Penn State back within one at 22-21. A solo block by Frantti tied the set at 22-22 and an ace by Kendall White gave Penn State its first lead of the set at 23-22. Another Frantti kill gave Penn State set point at 24-22, capping a 5-0 run. An Amber Rolfzen kill cut it to 24-23, but Frantti ended the second set at 25-23 with her 16th kill. Frantti accounted for five of Penn State’s last six points after accounting for its final five points in set one.
Set 3: The Huskers again started strong, taking a 10-3 lead after a 5-0 run. Malloy had a solo block and a kill, as did Holman, while Foecke served an ace during the run. A pair of Amber Rolfzen kills sandwiched around one by Malloy made it 14-6 Huskers. A slew of great defensive plays led to another Amber Rolfzen kill for a 15-8 lead. Frantti again willed the Nittany Lions back into the set with a pair of solo blocks, and a Husker hitting error had the Nittany Lions back within striking distance at 16-14. Holman and Foecke combined for a block to get NU out of the rotation, and Kadie Rolfzen followed with a kill for an 18-14 lead. The Nittany Lions fought back once again, pulling within 18-17 on a Bryanna Weiskircher ace. Each time Penn State cut it to one, the Huskers answered, including a Malloy kill that made it 21-19. Kadie Rolfzen served an ace for a 22-19 lead, but Lee followed with a kill and a pair of Penn State blocks had the set level at 22-22, the first tie score since 0-0. Lee continued the run after a timeout with a pair of kills for match point at 24-22. But the Huskers weren’t done. Amber Rolfzen began the comeback with a kill, and she combined with Hunter for a block to tie the set at 24-24. Foecke finished the set on a 4-0 Husker run with a pair of kills, as the Huskers won 26-24.
Set 4: Back-to-back kills by Holman and one by Kadie Rolfzen had the Huskers on top 5-3 early once again. A solo block by Malloy and a dump by Hunter helped NU to a 9-5 lead. The lead became six at 13-7 after a Kadie Rolfzen kill, and Holman smashed her 14th before a Foecke ace made it 17-9. Malloy tacked on a kill and then combined with the Rolfzen twins for a rare triple block and a 19-10 Husker lead. Lainy Pierce came in for the Nittany Lions and served a 5-0 run as they pulled within 19-15. Kadie Rolfzen ended the run with a kill, and Hunter won a battle at the net for a 21-15 lead. Malloy’s 12th kill and an ace by Albrecht made it 23-16 Huskers. Kadie Rolfzen killed out of the back row for set point at 24-17, and Nebraska forced a fifth set when Holman put down her 15th kill for a 25-19 win.
Set 5: Albrecht served her third ace to begin the set and Amber Rolfzen added a kill for a 2-0 start. Penn State came back to tie the set 3-3, but a solo block by Hunter and PSU hitting error made it 5-3 Big Red. Kadie Rolfzen and Holman added a block, and the Huskers led 6-3 as Penn State took a timeout. Holman continued to dominate the set with another kill and a solo block for an 8-4 lead. After the teams switched sides, Foecke served an ace to make it 9-4. Holman’s 17th kill gave the Huskers sideout, and a great dig by Kenzie Maloney led to an Amber Rolfzen kill, as the Huskers went up 11-6. Malloy followed with her 13th kill, and Wong-Orantes served an ace for match point at 14-6. The Huskers ended the match on a 6-0 run to win 15-6 after an Amber Rolfzen kill.
Next Up: Nebraska will face Washington in Saturday’s NCAA Regional Final. First serve for Saturday’s match is 3 p.m. and the match will be televised on ESPNU.
— NU Athletics —
MINNEAPOLIS – No. 15 Mizzou Volleyball saw its season come to a close with a Sweet 16 loss at No. 2 Minnesota, 3-1 (15-25, 25-21, 19-25, 14-25), on Friday evening at the Sports Pavilion, the home court of the second-seeded Gophers. Mizzou was led by 20 kills and a double-double from senior OH Carly Kan (Honolulu, Hawaii) who finishes her career with 1,677 kills and 1,445 digs, ranking second and fourth, respectively, in school history. Mizzou finishes the season 27-6 while Minnesota goes to 28-4.
Kan and the Mizzou senior class – MB Emily Thater (Springfield, Mo.), RS Julia Towler (Blue Springs, Mo.) and L Alexa Ethridge (Blue Springs, Mo.) – finish their careers as the winningest four-year class in school history with 105 wins. They won a pair of SEC Championships and went to three NCAA Tournaments. The 27 wins on the year are the fifth-most in school history and the senior class has three of the top five win totals in school history.
Junior OH Melanie Crow (Wildwood, Mo.) added 12 kills, seven digs and two blocks and Thater pitched in seven kills on .278 hitting with two blocks and a pair of aces. Ethridge posted 19 digs, just missing her third 20-dig outing of the year, but it was her best four-set total of the season. Junior setter Courtney Eckenrode (The Woodlands, Texas) posted her seventh double-double of the season with 36 assists and 11 digs.
The second-seeded Gophers ran out to an 8-4 lead early in the first set despite Mizzou getting a pair of early blocks. The Tigers made three uncharacteristic attack errors in the stretch, forcing Coach Kreklow to call timeout. Minnesota kept the foot on the gas to go up 15-7, but Mizzou cut the lead to 15-12 using back row attacks from Kan. But as quick as Mizzou got back into it, Minnesota ran off a 5-0 run and that put the set away with the Gophers taking the first frame, 25-15.
Mizzou played better to open the second frame behind the attack of Kan and opened a 13-10 lead after a pair of strong serves from Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.). Mizzou grew the lead to 14-10 out of the timeout following a kill by Emily Thater (Springfield, Mo.), but Minnesota scored the next five points and wound up on top 17-16. Mizzou then got back-to-back kills from Kan and Crow and an ace from Thater to open a 19-17 lead.
The trading of runs continued as Minnesota tied the set at 19-all after a pair of kills, but Mizzou answered right back and that stole momentum, taking set two, 25-21.
Following the break, Minnesota raced out to an 8-3 lead as it connected for kills on its first six swings. Mizzou fought to get back into the set and got as close as 14-10, but the Gophers sided out from there and won the third, 25-19. Minnesota kept it going in the fourth set and ran away with a 25-14 set win to close out the match.
— Mizzou Athletics —
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has added longtime defensive line coach and Southeastern Conference veteran Brick Haley to his coaching staff, as announced today, pending completion of campus human resources procedures. Haley will serve as Mizzou’s defensive line coach, a position he has coached with great success for 19 years overall, including the last 13 straight. In all, Haley – an outstanding recruiter and developer of talent – has logged 26 years as a full-time defensive coach, including three as defensive coordinator, and two as an assistant in the National Football League. Details of Haley’s contract will be released once fully executed.
Haley comes to Mizzou after spending the past two seasons at Texas, where he coached the Longhorn defensive line. This past season, Texas’ defense led the Big 12 Conference in both quarterback sacks (3.42 per game) and tackles for loss (7.6 per game), while ranking 5th and 16th nationally in those categories, respectively. In 2015, Texas ranked fifth in the NCAA in sacks. Prior to his time in Austin, Haley was at LSU for six seasons (2009-14), where he perennially directed one of the nation’s most disruptive defensive fronts. At LSU, he coached 10 defensive linemen who were selected in the NFL Draft, including a pair of first-round picks in DT Michael Brockers (No. 12 overall in 2012) and DE Barkevious Mingo (No. 6 overall in 2013). Haley’s line was key reason why the Tigers went 13-0 in the 2011 regular season and reached the 2012 BCS Championship Game.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with Brick Haley, I have had tremendous respect for him over the years,” said Odom. “He will be a great mentor and teacher for our student-athletes and will bring leadership and coaching qualities that will make Mizzou Football better in every way. I’m excited to welcome Brick, Tina and the kids to the Mizzou Family!!” said Odom.
“I’m very pleased and really excited to be joining Coach Odom’s program,” said Haley. “We haven’t worked together, but I’m very aware of him and the reputation he has in the coaching profession. I look at this as an unbelievable opportunity to work with someone who has such an impressive passion and work ethic. It didn’t take me long in our conversations to know that Coach Odom is the right guy and someone you want to work with. I believe that Mizzou is a place where the sky is the limit, and I’m looking forward to being part of the program,” he said.
Haley joined LSU in the spring of 2009 after spending two years as defensive line coach with the NFL’s Chicago Bears. In Chicago, Haley coached a line that helped the Bears rank fifth in the league in fewest rushing yards allowed in 2008. The Bears finished sixth in the NFL in sacks in 2007, with DE Tommie Harris earning a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Prior to his stop in the NFL, Haley spent three years (2004-06) as the defensive line coach at Mississippi State. He helped improve a Bulldogs defense that finished 41st in the nation in 2006 after finishing 113th a year before his arrival. Defensive end Titus Brown developed into a second-team All-SEC selection after leading the team and ranking fifth in the conference in sacks in 2006.
In 2005, Haley coached the SEC leader in sacks (third in NCAA) and tackles for loss (fourth in NCAA) in Willie Evans, who went on to spend four years in the NFL.
Before arriving at Mississippi State, Haley coached linebackers for two years (2002-2003) at Georgia Tech, where he helped the Yellow Jackets to a pair of bowl games. In 2003, he coached a first-team All-ACC performer after Tech’s trio of starting linebackers finished the 2002 season as the team’s top three tacklers.
Previously, Haley was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Baylor (1999-2001) after coaching outside linebackers for one season each at Clemson (1998) and Houston (1997). The defensive line coach at Troy State from 1994-96, he was promoted to defensive coordinator following the 1996 campaign before leaving for Houston. Haley coached the defensive line at Austin Peay from 1991-93 after starting his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1990. His first coaching job was at Enterprise (Ala.) High School in 1989.
A native of Gadsden, Ala., Haley attended Alabama A&M, where he was a standout linebacker from 1984-88. He received Alabama A&M’s Inspiration Award in 1987 and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1988. In 2005, Haley was inducted into A&M’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
— Mizzou Athletics —
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas forward Carlton Bragg Jr. has been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery.
The 20-year-old sophomore from Cleveland was taken into custody Thursday and accused of causing “reckless bodily harm to a family member,” according to booking records. His case was forwarded to the Douglas County prosecutor but no charges had been filed as of Friday morning.
Kansas associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said the school is aware of the situation and was still gathering facts. It is unclear whether Bragg will play Saturday against Nebraska.
Bragg has appeared in all nine games with five starts for the third-ranked Jayhawks this season, and is averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 minutes.
— Associated Press —
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, Kansas City’s defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 21-13 on a frigid Thursday night to take control of the AFC West.
Charcandrick West also had a touchdown run for the Chiefs (10-3). They moved into a first-place tie with Oakland (10-3) but holds the tiebreaker with two wins over their longtime divisional rival.
Carr was 17 of 41 for 117 yards passing, though the ugly stat line wasn’t entirely his fault.
Seth Roberts dropped just about everything thrown at him, Amari Cooper couldn’t adjust to a long throw for a would-be touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and several more passes were dropped to the rock-hard turf of Arrowhead Stadium on a night when wind chills approached single digits.
Alex Smith threw for 261 yards with a touchdown and an interception to help the Chiefs, returning home after back-to-back road wins, beat Oakland for the seventh time in their last eight meetings.
Hill didn’t seem bothered by the cold, scorching the Raiders for a 36-yard TD reception before bringing a punt back 78 yards for another score. It made him the first rookie since Gale Sayers in 1965 with touchdowns on the ground, through the air and on punt and kickoff returns in a single season.
It was still 21-3 when the Chiefs lost linebacker Derrick Johnson to an Achilles injury, and that seemed to briefly deflate them. Oakland proceeded to march 92 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.
But the Raiders kept coming up empty with their chances in the second half.
Smith threw a pick on the second play of the third quarter, but Oakland had to settle for a field goal. And when Smith was strip-sacked by Khalil Mack on the next play, the Raiders again had to try a field goal — only this time, holder Marquette King couldn’t get the snap down.
The Raiders’ last chance came with about two minutes left, when a questionable pass interference penalty and a fourth-and-4 conversion got them deep into Kansas City territory. But after a false start on fourth-and-1, Carr’s pass toward the end zone was batted incomplete.
The Chiefs went on to pick up the first down they needed to put the game away.
CATCHING KELCE
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had five catches for 101 yards, his fourth consecutive game with at least 100 yards receiving. That matches the franchise record set by former tight end Tony Gonzalez.
MACK DADDY
Mack had a strip-sack for the third straight game, and a sack in his eighth straight dating to the Raiders’ loss to Kansas City in October. That matches Lance Johnstone for the longest streak in franchise history since sacks became official in 1982.
INJURIES
Johnson went down untouched late in the first half, and it appeared the veteran linebacker knew right away his Achilles was injured. He ruptured his right Achilles two years ago and missed the rest of the season. … Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches left with back spasms and did not return.
Raiders offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele was a late scratch with an illness. Safety Karl Joseph was inactive with a toe injury and defensive tackle Stacy McGee was sidelined by an ankle injury.
UP NEXT
Oakland remains in the AFC West when it heads to slumping San Diego on Dec. 18.
Kansas City continues its three-game homestand Dec. 18 against Tennessee.
— Associated Press —
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
BOYS
LIBERTY NORTH INVITATIONAL – SEMIFINAL
Park Hill 59, St. Joseph Central 53
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS
Bishop LeBlond @ Stanberry – 5:30
Lafayette @ Platte County – 5:30 – Listen on 680 KFEQ or click here
LIBERTY NORTH INVITATIONAL – 3RD PLACE GAME
St. Joseph Central vs. Kearney – 4:00
BOYS
Bishop LeBlond @ Stanberry – 7:00
Lafayette @ Platte County – 7:00 – Listen on 680 KFEQ or click here
Benton vs. Harrisonville – 7:30
LIBERTY NORTH INVITATIONAL – 3RD PLACE GAME
St. Joseph Central vs. Shawnee Mission North – 5:30
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham was named to the Naismith Trophy Women’s Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Cunningham is one of just 50 players from around the country and one of 11 players from the SEC on the list for the women’s college basketball’s player of the year honor. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, the first Naismith trophy was awarded in 1969 to UCLA’s Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The trophy was sculpted by Marty C. Dawe of Atlanta and has become among the most prestigious national honors awarded each year to top basketball players in the nation. The Women’s Player of the Year Award was first given to Anne Donovan of Old Dominion University in 1983.
Each year the club’s board publishes the “Naismith Watch List” that is made up of the top 50 players to watch in men’s and women’s college basketball. The organization also releases a list of 30 mid-season Naismith candidates. At the end of the season the Naismith Trophy is awarded to the player of the year in men’s and women’s college basketball. A national voting academy of leading basketball coaches, administrators and journalists narrows the group down to four finalists based on player performance throughout the season. The final four Naismith finalists will make up the ballot and the player of the year is voted on by the group.
After earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2015-16, Cunningham has picked up right where she left off to begin her sophomore campaign. She is averaging a team-high 15.2 points to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Cunningham has reached double-digits in eight of nine games, highlighted by a 22-point outburst in a win over Missouri State.
Cunningham was named second-team All-SEC a season ago after starting all 32 games as a freshman. She notched 20-plus points on 10 different occasions, including a school-record 42-point outing against Wake Forest. She received a conference-record six SEC Freshman of the Week awards.
Cunningham and Mizzou take on Wichita State on Friday at Mizzou Arena. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball topped SIU-Edwardsville, 72-60, on Wednesday night to kick-off a four-game homestand. Mizzou (7-3) capitalized on a strong second half and a dominant presence from the free throw line to down SIUE (2-6). The Tigers made at least 20 free throws for the fourth time this season.
Senior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) led the Mizzou offense, setting a new career high for 3-pointers in a game with six treys. She moved up to sixth place in program history for career 3-point field goals made with 136 trifectas. She posted a season-high 24 points to lead all scorers on Wednesday.
Sophomore Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) tallied 18 points and 13 rebounds for her fifth career double-double. She has recorded at least 10 points in 10 consecutive games to begin the season. Michaelis and Porter combined for a total of 42 points, the most by any Mizzou duo this season.
Michaelis set the tone early from the beyond the arc, draining three consecutive three-pointers to open the scoring for the Tigers. Mizzou jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead but SIUE put together a 7-0 run to close out the opening quarter and pull within four. The game remained tight as Mizzou sustained a 30-25 edge heading into halftime.
Mizzou clamped down defensively midway through the third quarter to pull away. During a stretch that lasted nearly six minutes of game clock, the Tigers held SIUE to just one field goal. Meanwhile, Mizzou shot 46 percent (6-for-13) in the quarter to grab a 53-40 lead going into the final frame.
The momentum kept rolling for Mizzou as it maintained at least a nine-point advantage for the remainder of the game. Redshirt senior Lindsey Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) scored seven fourth-quarter points to cap a solid all-around performance. She pulled down her 10th rebound of the game in the final minute to seal her first career double-double as she chipped in 11 points in 36 minutes.
Redshirt freshman Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) earned her first career start as a Tiger, posting three points and five rebounds on Wednesday. Redshirt senior Lianna Doty (St. Louis, Mo.) added nine points, six assists and four rebounds in a season-high 37 minutes.
Mizzou continues its homestand on Friday when the Tigers host Wichita State. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —
