After 26 hours worth of game delays and weather warnings, Missouri women’s basketball finally got to play Arkansas on the road Monday night and came out of the gates rolling, beating the Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena, 84-58.
The Tigers, who arrived to the game just two hours before tipoff, came out hot, leading 33-14 at the end of the first period. Missouri never looked back, holding onto the lead for the rest of the game.
The Tigers’ 84 points was the second-highest total of the season, only second to the 88 points put up against Arkansas in Columbia in late January. Sophie Cunningham led all scorers with 18 points, and Missouri had three other players in double figures. Jordan Frericks had 15 points, Jordan Chavis had 12 and Hannah Schuchts had 10. Schuchts and Chavis were a part of a bench that scored 32 points for the Tigers.
Not only did the Tigers score early and often; they were also incredibly efficient. After finishing the first quarter shooting 73 percent from the field, they finished the night shooting 51.7 percent, 45.8 percent from beyond the arc and 92.9 percent from the free-throw line.
While Missouri was able to dominate offensively throughout, it also had Arkansas’ number on defense, forcing the Razorbacks into a tough night of shooting. As a team, Arkansas was just 34 percent from the field and shot 59 percent at the free-throw line.
The win moves the Tigers to 20-5 overall and puts them at fifth place in the SEC with an 8-4 conference record. The Tigers’ next game is a road matchup against the 13-11 Auburn Tigers on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.
_Edited by Joe Noser | jnoser@themaneater.com_