Tigers win in an afternoon showdown after an offensive explosion in the second half.
Missouri women’s basketball won their first game of the season in a group effort, defeating Belmont 72-61.The Tigers led wire-to-wire.
Missouri held Belmont scoreless through the first four minutes. Graduate Hayley Frank led the charge, drawing three charges in the first half alone. As a team, the Tigers forced 10 turnovers, which included seven steals.
“We wanted to be gritty defensively, take away second shot opportunities, keep them off the free throw line,” head coach Robin Pingeton said.
However, Missouri had their own difficulties controlling the ball, as they turned the ball over 15 times.
On a similar note, Frank’s defensive prowess was met with early offensive woes, as she shot 0/4 in the first quarter. However, she got back on track, scoring 15 points in the final three quarters, which helped stretch Missouri’s lead to 14 during the third quarter — their biggest of the game.
“I just had to settle in,” Frank said.
Both teams were in foul trouble all game, combining for 46. Graduate transfer Angelique Ngalakulondi was afflicted for Missouri with three fouls in just six minutes of action. Frank had to sit for most of the third quarter after picking up two quick fouls in the half.
This helped Belmont to bring the lead back within single digits for most of the fourth quarter. But Frank returned in the fourth, working alongside sophomore guard Ashton Judd to hold onto the lead and secure their first win of the 2023-24 season.
It was an offense by committee, with eight separate players scoring and four registering double-digits.
Joining Frank in the double-digit scoring party were three guards: Judd, freshman Grace Slaughter and senior Mama Dembele.
Dembele racked up an efficient 15 points, making five of her seven shot attempts. She led the team as a passer, with five assists in just over 30 minutes of action.
“She just gets up and goes,” Pingeton said.
Judd and Slaughter both racked up 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Slaughter saw her first action and her first start at the collegiate level after coming in as the No. 1 recruit in Missouri and No. 53 in the nation in the class of 2023.
“I’ve grown up being a Mizzou fan,” Slaughter said. “Just to absorb it all was super neat and super exciting,”
Freshman forward Hannah Linthacum impressed in her first appearance, barely missing the double-digit mark with 7 points and six rebounds.
This team-wide success was done without sophomore guard Averi Kroenke, who was sidelined with a cast on her left foot. A timeline for her return has not yet been determined.
Missouri looks to extend the winning streak in their second home game against Indiana State on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com