Team effort powers Missouri past Missouri State
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Propelled by a near triple-double performance from senior guard Mama Dembele, University of Missouri Women's Basketball defeated Missouri State, 81-63, Wednesday night in Mizzou Arena.
Dembele recorded an impressive all-around stat line, finishing the contest with 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.
With the effort, the point guard notched her third double-double of the season, coming just two rebounds shy of Missouri's (7-3, 0-0 SEC) first triple-double since 2011.
Dembele also moved into eighth place on the program's all-time assist leaderboard. She stands just one behind Latoya Bond (2002-06) for seventh.
Sophomore guard Ashton Judd led the Tigers in scoring with 20 points behind a 4-for-8 performance from beyond the arc. Judd also added 10 rebounds for Mizzou, marking her second double-double of the season.
Veteran forward Hayley Frank made significant contributions against the Bears (3-3, 0-0 MVC), chipping in 14 points and nine rebounds. Frank has tallied double-digit points in eight of Missouri's nine games, including the Tigers' last seven-straight contests.
Missouri was hot from the field to open the game, outscoring Missouri State 22-11 in the opening frame. Frank propelled the Tigers on the defensive end, drawing a charge in the paint to spark an 11-2 Tigers' run.
Freshman forward Hannah Linthacum, who recorded her second-career start, drew a foul before going 2-for-2 at the line to put the Tigers in front, 7-5. Judd led all scorers in the first with seven points, as she scored on three straight trips down the floor to extend Missouri's lead to 16-7 midway through the frame.
Missouri State mounted an offensive push early in the second, going on a 10-4 run. Ignited by back-to-back buckets from freshman guard Abbey Schreacke, who led the way in the second with five points. Frank nailed her 30th consecutive free-throw to put Mizzou in front, 33-25. The Tigers headed into the locker room with a 40-27 advantage.
Led by back-to-back 3-pointers from Judd and Frank, Mizzou extended its lead early in the third. Freshman Grace Slaughter also contributed from beyond the arc, chipping in three points in the final two minutes, before Mizzou closed out the quarter with a 16-point advantage.
Dembele spurred the Tigers in the final frame, drawing a foul and finishing the three-point play at the free-throw line. Schreacke cashed in on an and-one late in the fourth to put a cap on the night, as Missouri secured the victory.
As a team, the Tigers out-rebounded Missouri State 44-36. The night marked the Tigers' third-straight game with 40 or more boards. In total, Mizzou has secured 40-plus rebounds seven times so far this season.
The victory over the Bears also marked the fifth time the Tigers have scored 80-plus points in a contest.
UP NEXT
The Tigers meet up with former Big 12 foe #13 Kansas State in Saint Joseph, Mo. on Dec. 9. The neutral site matchup is slated to tip off at 5 p.m. from inside Civic Arena, and fans can listen along with the Varsity Network.