Missouri women’s basketball led by as many as 15 and trailed by as many as 8 in regulation, but ultimately fell to Virginia 87-81 in overtime.

The Tigers failed to find their rhythm in the extra period, as they shot  3/9 from the field and 0/4 on three-pointers. Virginia outscored Missouri 8-2 to begin the period, and were able to hold the lead after making 6/10 free throws. 

All four of their baskets came on layups, as Missouri had difficulty defending the paint. Over the course of the entire game, the Cavaliers registered 16 offensive rebounds and 18 second-chance points.

“A big point of emphasis was keeping them off the offensive boards,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “They just went to work on us in the second half.”

The Tigers started the game hot, as they doubled up the Cavaliers 26-13 after one quarter on the back of a 16-2 run. Sophomore guard Ashton Judd and graduate forward Angelique Ngalakulondi both impressed early with eight points each, outscoring Virginia by themselves. 

“Our ball movement was really good,” Pingeton said. “[Virginia] close[s] out hard but really collapse on the ball, so we have to stop our drives early and kick … I thought we had some really nice possessions of that [drive and kick action].”

The tide turned after Ngalakulondi left the game early in the second quarter after a wrist injury. While diving for a loose ball, the graduate forward’s wrist was landed on by a Virginia player. She returned later in the quarter with a brace, but eventually removed herself from the game, as she was unable to continue.

“It didn’t feel right [for her],” Pingeton said. “[We are] anxious to get back and have the [doctors] look at it.”

Virginia proceeded to go on a 35-13 run from late in the second quarter to earlier in the fourth. Missouri struggled during the third quarter, allowing 27 points and registering eight turnovers.

“[I] felt like the beginning of the second half, they came out and threw the first punch,” Pingeton said.

One notable event in the third was an off-setting technical foul from graduate forward Hayley Frank alongside one for Virginia’s Paris Clark. During a scramble on the ground, both players gave one another a shove to draw the attention of the referees. The match was a physical affair, with both teams combining for 39 fouls.

A silver lining for the Tigers was the performance of freshman guard Grace Slaughter. In the final quarter, Slaughter accounted for eight of her 15 points, including a triple in the final minute to cut the Virginia lead to one. 

Frank put in another impressive performance before fouling out in overtime. Held scoreless in the first quarter, Frank responded with 21 points in the final three quarters. She made all seven of her free throws, including three in a row to send the game to overtime.

“Overall, I thought our girls really battled,” Pingeton said.

Missouri has suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season, falling to 5-3 overall. The TIgers will look to bounce back at home against in-state foe Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Edited by Quentin Corpuel | qcorpuel@themaneater.com 

Copy edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com