Missouri Tigers women’s basketball defeated Texas A&M 81-70 at Mizzou Arena Jan. 25, advancing past the Aggies to No. 13 in the Southeastern Conference standings.
The victory snapped a two-game losing skid, giving the Tigers a 14-9 overall record and a 2-6 record in conference play.
Missouri controlled the game early, leading the Aggies 21-9 after the first quarter and never trailing again after being down 4-2. The strong quarter was a result of efficient shooting and smooth offense, as Missouri went 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from downtown.
Both teams turned the ball over three times in the quarter, which proved to be a game low. Missouri ended the game with 20 turnovers for just the fourth time this season, in comparison to Texas A&M’s 17.
Junior guards Grace Slaughter and Abbey Schreacke combined for 12 of the 21 first-quarter points. Slaughter led all scorers with 24 points in the contest, shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 11-for-15 from the free-throw line.
A sizable outlier for the black and gold was free-throw shooting, converting on 28-of-37 foul shots, ranking second on the season in free-throw attempts and makes. Texas A&M went 19-for-24 from the charity stripe.
The final three quarters featured more turnovers and simply sloppy play on both sides, but the Tigers always held the Aggies at arm’s length, never leading by less than seven points.
Missouri’s efficiency was the overarching reason for its consistent lead. The Tigers went 48% on field goals and 41% from three, while Texas A&M shot 34% from the field and 20% from deep.
Missouri had five players in double digits: Slaughter with 24, redshirt senior guard Jayla Smith with 15, sophomore guard Chloe Sotell with 11, senior forward Jordana Reisma with 10 and Schreacke with 10.
Senior Ny’Ceara Pryor led the Aggies with 22 points, paired with five rebounds and seven assists. The guard fouled out late in the fourth quarter after a 12-point and four-assist effort in the final frame.
Missouri looks to climb the ranks of the SEC as it hits the road in its next matchup against Mississippi State (15-6, 2-5) Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
