Missouri women’s basketball is back on track after defeating Southern 73-54 Dec. 20 and Illinois 84-65 Dec. 22. The Tigers are now 12-2 this season.
Against Southern, 6-foot-1 junior forward Hayley Frank led the scoring, finishing with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Frank finished 7-0f-10 from the floor and 3-of-6 beyond the arc. Her 21 points marked the third time this season that Frank has scored over 20 points.
6-foot junior guard Aijha Blackwell earned her eighth double-double of the season and the 28th of her career, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
6-foot-4 redshirt senior forward LaDazhia Williams had an efficient display off the bench, hitting her first four shots from the floor and finishing with 12 points shooting 5-of-6.
5-foot-10 redshirt senior guard Haley Troup dished out five assists, which marked the fifth time this season she has finished a game with five or more assists.
The Tigers were able to hold Southern to .308 (21 of 68) shooting from the floor, which marked the lowest shooting percentage for an opponent this season.
During the game against Southern, the Tigers gained a lead of nine in the first quarter after a 13-0 run in the final three minutes of the first period.
Execution and ball movement allowed Missouri to seal the victory with a 17-4 run between the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. The Tigers led by as many as 26 in the fourth behind Frank’s six points in the first six minutes of the final period.
The momentum and execution from the game against Southern stayed with Missouri on the road as they traveled to Illinois for the Braggin’ Rights contest.
The Tigers struggled early, with Illinois establishing a 13-1 lead early in the first quarter. However, Missouri regained control and went on a 22-3 run beginning in the first quarter and carrying on in the second quarter with nine points from 5-foot-8 junior guard Lauren Hansen and six points from Blackwell.
With five players scoring in double figures for Missouri, Illinois struggled to prevent the Tigers from scoring. The Fighting Illini set up a full-court defensive press, but Missouri used its quickness to create transition opportunities and open looks.
Blackwell led the scoring with her ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Frank contributed 14 points and closed non-conference play shooting 63% from the floor, 50% from the three and going 8-for-8 from the free throw line, while averaging six rebounds and two assists over the last three games.
Hansen was the third Tiger scoring in double figures with 14 points. Williams scored 13 points, placing her in double figures for the second contest in a row. Troup also added 10 points to the board, helping Missouri extend its lead throughout the game.
This marked the first time since Feb. 7, 2021, vs. Auburn that five Tigers have finished the game in double figures. The Tigers earned a 84-65 victory Dec. 22, taking the Braggin’ Rights game and ending their non-compliance play on a high note.
Missouri begins conference play at home on Dec. 30 against South Carolina.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com