In its final home game of the season, Missouri women’s basketball fell to No. 21 Tennessee by a final score of 78-73.
After it sunk a record-tying 18 three-pointers on Sunday, the Tigers’ offense hoped to match the success it found against Florida. It did come close, but not close enough to sink the Volunteers.
Just three minutes into the game, Missouri coach Robin Pingeton called a timeout with the Tigers down 9-2. Missouri returned from that timeout more like the team they were on Sunday.
Redshirt junior guard Haley Troup led the initial charge. Troup kept the Tigers in the game during the first half, scoring 14 points and going 6-9 on field goals.
“[Troup] has a high basketball IQ, she plays with great pace,” Pingeton said. “She looked for mid-range a little bit tonight, which was great to see she has the ability to get to the rim. I’m really pleased with her and really excited that we get her back for a couple of years.”
Sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell commanded the third and fourth quarters for the offense. Both Troup and Blackwell finished with a team-high 16 points. The two guards were enough to help Missouri hold its lead until the start of the fourth quarter.
Tennessee senior forward Rennia Davis then dominated the final quarter. She scored 20 points and led the Volunteers with 26 points in the game.
“She’s such a great player,” Pingeton said. “She just kind of took over there in the second half and we didn’t have an answer for her.”
Although a deflating loss for a Missouri team that has suffered several close defeats against top-25 teams, Pingeton still came away impressed with her team’s resilience.
“I feel for my kids in the locker room,” Pingeton said. “I thought they really competed. They showed a lot of toughness out there. The first couple minutes I wasn’t pleased with but from there they responded.”
Blackwell called Missouri’s four-point loss to No. 8 Texas A&M a “moral victory.” The team now knows what to work on in its tough schedule ahead.
“We just have to figure out how to win these games,” Troup said. “I think we know that and we talk about that. Our mindset’s not going to change. We know we can beat anyone. It’s just learning how to win in those close moments.”
As the Tigers prepare for their final game of the regular season and then for the postseason, it’s imperative that they keep competing. Pingeton is hopeful that the losses are just a step closer to the end goal.
“We’re paying our dues right now,” Pingeton said. “It’s hard. It’s not fun. But hopefully, this will continue to fuel our fire and we show up tomorrow and get back to work.”
Missouri caps off the regular season on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT against Mississippi State.
_Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com_