The Tigers’ starting lineup changes brought a new look for Missouri women’s basketball on Senior Night, but didn’t alter the outcome of the 84-78 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma.
After falling to Louisiana State and South Carolina by a combined 94 points, the Tigers had a much better showing in the regular-season finale at Mizzou Arena despite the loss.
With senior guards Jayla Smith and Saniah Tyler in the starting lineup, junior guard Shannon Dowell made her presence felt in her first game off the bench this season. Dowell finished with a season-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 14-for-22 shooting splits.
“We opened that playbook up and gave her every opportunity to continue to get back down to the paint,” head coach Kellie Harper said. “I was really proud of her aggressiveness and confidence.”
In a fourth quarter in which the Tigers outscored Oklahoma 28-17, Dowell poured in 15 points and four rebounds.
“My teammates did a really good job of looking for me, they cut really good off the ball,” Dowell said. “I think we were just moving and working as a team.”
Despite the season-high performance from Dowell, the Tigers’ loss came courtesy of the sizing and positioning issues that have plagued the team all season. The Tigers got outrebounded by the Sooners 54-35 while allowing 20 offensive rebounds.
Missouri didn’thave an answer for the Sooners’ 6-foot-4-inch senior center Raegan Beers, who ended with a team-high 23 points and nine rebounds.
“We just tried to stay in front of her, move behind her, just keep her guessing a little bit,” Harper said, “And try to keep the ball out of her hands as much as possible. It’s hard to do.”
Star Sooner freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez tallied 18 points while shooting 6-for-19 from the field. The Tigers held the Sooners’ season-leading scorer to her least efficient game since Feb. 12.
“We wanted to make it hard on her,” Harper said. “We wanted her shots to be contested and try to limit the open opportunities. And I thought when we had good defense and contested, I thought those were the ones she missed.”
As for Missouri’s offense, the Tigers struggled from downtown, shooting 7-for-28 on 3-pointers. Junior guard Grace Slaughter shot 0-for-7 from 3-point range but scored 15 points.
Senior forward Jordana Reisma returned to the lineup for Missouri after a two-game absence and had an immediate impact on the game. Reisma added 13 points and snagged six rebounds while adding a season-high three 3-pointers — a healthy Reisma will be a crucial factor for the Tigers come postseason play.
The Tigers (16-15, 4-12 SEC) will face Alabama (21-9, 7-9 SEC) in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
