Missouri women’s basketball couldn’t buy a made basket during the first half of its 69-53 victory against Saint Louis University. 

The Tigers entered the game leading the SEC in field goal percentage at 53.4%, but struggled early, shooting 38.7% from the field, including 16.7% from beyond the arc in the first half.

However, on a night when its shots didn’t fall, Missouri found a way to win behind career-nights from freshman guard Izzy Higginbottom and junior guard Lauren Hansen.

Higginbottom scored a career-high 17 points on 83% shooting off the bench. After she scored 3 total points over the season’s first two games, Hansen bounced back to score 16 points and provide the Tigers a much-needed boost.

During a two-minute stretch of the third quarter, Hansen scored 7-consecutive points for Missouri. She began the run with a steal and a layup, then connected on a 3-point jumper from the corner and finished with a drive to the basket.

Saint Louis senior center Brooke Flowers entered the afternoon with a NCAA-leading 15.5 rebounds per game, but couldn’t find the same success against the Missouri frontcourt of junior guard Aijha Blackwell and junior forward Hayley Frank. 

Flowers finished the game with 9 rebounds and 10 points, while senior guard Ciaja Harbison scored 14 points, including 12 in the second half to keep the Billikens within striking distance.

Offensive inefficiency plagued both teams throughout the night, but Saint Louis never found the success Missouri showcased in the second half. The Billikens shot 16.7% from 3-point range and only connected on 46.2% of their free throws.

Missouri finished with a 38.7% field goal percentage and rediscovered its 3-point shot in the second half, draining 46.2% of its attempts. Higginbottom led the run with three 3-point baskets, while Frank added two of her own in the second half.

With 8:36 remaining in the third quarter, the Tigers held a 6-point lead over Saint Louis at 32-26. Over the next four minutes, Missouri’s Hansen and Frank combined for 14 points, increasing the lead to 18 and ensuring there would be no comeback for the Billikens.

Saint Louis outscored Missouri in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers did more than enough in the third to hold off a determined Billikens squad.

The Tigers’ duo of Hansen and Higginbottom helped Missouri improve to 3-0 for the first time since the 2015-16 season. They now return home for games on Sunday and Tuesday against 2020 NCAA tournament teams Idaho State and Troy, respectively. 

KEY NOTES

• Tigers’ junior guard Aijha Blackwell recorded her third double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes. 
• Blackwell entered the game with the sixth-most rebounds per game in the NCAA at 14.0 and matched that number against the Billikens.
• Missouri improves to 24-1 against Saint Louis all-time with the victory.
• Frank scored 11 points of her own to give the Tigers four players in double figures.
• Saint Louis featured three in double figures: Harbison, Flowers and junior guard Julia Martinez.
• Missouri shot 92.9% from the free-throw line in the victory.
• The Tigers outrebounded the Billikens 47-31. 

Edited by Kyle Pinnell, kpinnell@themaneater.com