A fast Missouri start flamed out in Missouri’s road loss to Arkansas
Missouri women’s basketball’s leading scorer, graduate forward Hayley Frank, returned to the lineup after missing three games. But this return was less than ideal as Missouri fell to Arkansas 75-68 on the road. The Tigers have now lost seven straight games on the season, along with 12 games in a row against the Razorbacks.
Missouri started quick, jumping out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. Frank was back with a vengeance, scoring 5 early points while drawing her 32nd charge of the season during the stretch.
“I just felt like we came out hot,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “[We] had some really good ball movement and had some really good spacing.”
Senior guard Mama Dembele hit two fast threes during the quick start. After shooting 7-27 from beyond the arc in her first 22 games, Dembele has gone 5-9 on 3-point attempts during the last two games against Auburn and Arkansas.
Arkansas responded quickly, controlling the game with a 58-29 run. The Razorbacks held a 64-44 lead heading into the final quarter. The Tigers shot 6-24 in the middle two quarters, including 1-13 for attempts from the 3-point line.
“We had some good looks in that second and third quarter too, and we just didn’t knock them down,” Pingeton said.
The Tigers refused to go away, crawling back into the game late. Frank scored 8 straight points to help Missouri cut the lead to 6 points with three minutes left. Frank finished the game as the leading scorer with 22 points while collecting six rebounds.
“I thought she really gave us a great effort after being out for a couple weeks,” Pingeton said.
The comeback would fall short, as Missouri did not have enough gas in the tank. Arkansas closed out the 75-68 win, completing the season sweep of the Tigers.
The game was even in most statistical categories, as Missouri and Arkansas both had similar shooting, rebounding and turnover numbers. One major separation came with the Razorbacks’ 38-26 advantage in paint points.
Another area of concern for Missouri was only 2 bench points which came from freshman forward Hilke Feldrappe.
Freshman guard Abbey Schreacke usually serves as a spark plug off the bench, but instead made her second career start in place of fellow freshman Hannah Linthacum.
The reason for the lineup change came due to the success of Arkansas sophomore forward Maryam Dauda. Dauda entered the game with 63 blocks.
“We felt like going smaller ball and stretching a little bit would be in our best interest,” Pingeton said.
Dauda finished the game with a career-high 18 points along with two blocks, hovering around her average.
Missouri looks to snap their seven game losing skid as they hit the road once again to face off against Florida on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m.
Edited by Michael Stamps
Copy Edited by Briana Iordan | biordan@themaneater.com
Edited by Scout Hudson | shudson@themaneater.com