A usually explosive Missouri women’s basketball offense met its match Thursday night in Athens, Georgia, as the Tigers were shut down in a low-scoring, 62-50 loss to No. 21 Georgia.
The Tigers, who averaged 73.2 points coming into Thursday night, were up against one of the toughest defenses they’ve played at this point in Georgia. The Bulldogs — who averaged 58.2 points allowed per game and had a 34.4 opponent field goal percentage going into the game — bullied the Tigers’ offense into submission.
As a team, Georgia had seven steals, six blocks, and forced 18 Missouri turnovers.
Mizzou shot just 28 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. The Tigers were also pressed into foul trouble by the game’s end, as Sophie Cunningham, Lauren Aldridge and Jordan Frericks all finished with four fouls. Cunningham finished the night leading all scorers with 20 points, and Fericks recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Tigers also out-rebounded Georgia, 50 to 40.
Even with multiple standout performances, the Tigers couldn’t break through the Bulldog defense and got shut down where it mattered. By the end of the night, Georgia outscored Mizzou in the paint 32 to 18. The Tigers also couldn’t make the most of their second opportunities, as they finished with just five second-chance points and didn’t score any points off their six forced turnovers.
The Bulldogs also had big nights from Caliya Robinson, Hayley Clark and Que Morrison, all of whom scored in double figures and combined to post 26 rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
After Thursday’s ranked defeat, the Tigers head to Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday to take on No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks at 5 p.m. CT.
_Edited by Joe Noser | jnoser@themaneater.com_