No. 24 Missouri (21-9, 11-5) finished Southeastern Conference play by defeating Alabama (17-12, 5-11) 65-56. The victory over the Crimson Tide gives Missouri 11 conference wins for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
En route to those 11 wins, the Tigers had two win streaks of at least five conference wins for the first time in program history. Heading into postseason play, the Tigers have won 10 of their last 12 games, six of those 10 wins by double digits. This victory helped the Tigers clinch the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament, which gives them a double bye.
Senior Sierra Michaelis led Missouri with 22 points and eight rebounds on the day. She was followed by sophomore Sophie Cunningham, who chipped in 20 points and four boards. For Cunningham, this was her fourth straight SEC game with 20 points or more.
Despite a 7-0 Tigers run in the beginning of the second quarter that put Missouri ahead 17-7, Alabama stuck around and would eventually take a 29-26 lead heading into halftime. At the half, junior Quanetria Bolton led the Tide with nine points, hitting Alabama’s only two threes of the first half.
However, Missouri’s second-half performance proved too much for Alabama. The Tigers went on to dominate the Tide on the boards, coming out ahead in rebounds 42-29. Cunningham scored 15 of her 20 points in the second to help push the Tigers ahead. Michaelis and Cunningham combined for Missouri’s final seven points to ice the victory.
Having earned a double bye, the Tigers will play in the SEC quarterfinals in Greenville, South Carolina on Friday.
_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_