Mizzou tops Ole Miss for first-ever SEC Tournament win
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Amber Smith had 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists and No. 6 seed Missouri beat Ole Miss 59-50 in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Sophie Cunningham added all 11 of her points in the second half and the Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 3 seed Georgia on Friday night. During the regular season, Missouri lost its only meeting with Georgia on the road 62-50.
Missouri never trailed although 14th-seeded Ole Miss closed the first half on a 12-3 run to go into halftime down 28-26. The Tigers outscored the Rebels 13-4 in the third quarter and mostly led in double digits throughout the fourth.
Smith was 6 of 9 from the field and the Tigers made 17 of 35 baskets in winning their first SEC Tournament game in six tries.
Madinah Muhammad had 20 points and Alissa Alston added 10 for the Rebels.
Missouri and Georgia play in the final game of the quarterfinal round on Friday. The game airs on SEC Network after the conclusion of the Tennessee-South Carolina game that starts at 7 p.m. ET.