The Missouri women’s basketball team improved to 7-1 after dominating North Dakota 69-52 on Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

The game started with an unprecedented first five minutes, in which the Tigers broke out to a 21-0 lead. During the span, Missouri shot 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point territory.

The Fighting Sioux would eventually get on the board and show signs of life at the start of the second half. The closest they ever came to the Tigers was trailing 56-44 with seven minutes remaining.

Senior forward Christine Flores had yet another high scoring day, leading the team with 29 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Senior center BreAnna Brock contributed with 17 points, and freshman guard Morgan Eye led the bench with 16 points.

Besides Flores, Brock and Eye, there were only seven points scored by the rest of the Missouri team.

“I think everybody from the bench and the coaching staff to the starting five have to produce in some way, shape or form,” Flores said. “We will get tired playing 30 plus games, and we have to be able to rely on the bench. So far they have done an OK job, but there is always work for starters and the bench to do.”

But even with the win, coach Robin Pingeton was unhappy with letting up after hot start

“That was a tough game,” Pingeton said. “Any time you have 41 turnovers and 50-some free throws, it makes for a tough night of basketball to watch. I think if we didn’t come out of the gates the way we did, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in now.”

For Pingeton, the game met the description of an ugly victory.

“(I’m) not pleased with this game whatsoever,” she said. “I felt like we had a lot of breakdowns. We lost our edge. We lost our intensity, and that’s unacceptable and that’s a reflection of me and my staff.”

The Tigers will now have on a nine-day break for finals week. They return to host Evansville on Dec. 19 at Mizzou Arena.