No. 3-seeded Missouri women’s basketball (21-10, 11-5) fell in its opening game of the Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament to No. 6-seed Texas A&M (21-10) 62-48. The Tigers had previously beaten Texas A&M 78-76 on Jan. 19.

Senior Sierra Michaelis and sophomore Sophie Cunningham led the way with 15 and 13 points respectively, while the Aggies had three players, sophomore Anriel Howard, senior Taylor Cooper and sophomore Danni Williams, score in double digits. The three Aggies scoring leaders combined for 47 of Texas A&M’s 62 points.

It was turnovers that most heavily contributed to Missouri’s downfall. Averaging 16.1 turnovers per game this year, the Tigers had 20 on Friday compared to Texas A&M’s 10. Starting guards Michaelis, Cunningham and senior Lianna Doty combined for 12 of those turnovers. Texas A&M was able to turn those 20 Mizzou turnovers into 17 points.

The Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead and led Texas A&M 19-10 heading into the second quarter. In the second, A&M climbed back into the game behind Howard’s 11 first-half points.

The Aggies took their first lead with 8:42 left in the third quarter, outscoring Mizzou 15-4 in the third and never looked back. Cunningham scored all of the Tigers’ four points. In the fourth, Mizzou was able to trim Texas A&M’s lead down to seven with a minute left, before the deficit ballooned to 14.

With Mizzou’s early exit from the SEC postseason play, the Tigers, who entered the tournament ranked No. 23 in the country, now wait for March 13, when the NCAA Tournament selection committee releases the tournament bracket.

_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_