After a performance against Mississippi State where Missouri women’s basketball committed 20 turnovers, the Tigers set the tone early with their own stifling defense in a dominant 77-61 victory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Jan. 30.

On Alabama’s second offensive possession, Missouri junior guard Aijha Blackwell stripped the ball from Alabama junior guard JaMya Mingo-Young’s hands and rifled a pass to junior forward Hayley Frank, who found junior guard Lauren Hansen on a drive to the basket for Missouri’s first points. 

Missouri redshirt senior guard Haley Troup forced a turnover on the ensuing possession with a held-ball and drained a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead. From that point on, Missouri never looked back. 

The Tigers’ defensive pressure forced 11 Crimson Tide turnovers, including five in the first quarter alone. Missouri capitalized on Alabama’s first-quarter miscues with 9 points, giving the Tigers momentum and an early advantage. 

“I thought our girls really brought the energy tonight on the defensive end,” Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton said. “I thought that set the tone for us and we did a pretty good job of sustaining it throughout the course of the game.”

Missouri followed up its early defensive success with a near-flawless first quarter, where the Tigers shot 76.9% from the field, 80% from beyond the arc and only committed one turnover. The Crimson Tide countered with a 4-7 mark from 3-point range and 5 second-chance points, but faced a 24-16 deficit at the end of the first period. 

While Missouri’s offensive output declined in the second quarter, its defense continued to impress. The Tigers forced five more turnovers, held Alabama to 33.3% from the field and only allowed the Crimson Tide to score 13 points.

Redshirt senior forward LaDazhia Williams paced Missouri’s offense in the second quarter with 8 points. Williams showcased her abilities during a sequence where she made a layup from the low-post, blocked a layup attempt from Alabama senior guard Hannah Barber and finished it off with a jumper in the paint.

The Tigers added onto Williams’ impressive effort with another 6 points, establishing a 10-0 Missouri run over the final four and a half minutes of the first half. The stretch extended the Tigers’ lead to 42-29, their largest advantage of the game up to that point. 

Alabama and Missouri traded baskets throughout most of the third quarter, leading to a 55-44 Tigers lead with two and a half minutes remaining in the period. Missouri then closed the quarter on a 6-0 run, which included a buzzer-beating layup from sophomore center Jayla Kelly. 

The Crimson Tide’s scoreless stretch continued into the fourth quarter where the Tigers built upon their earlier run with 5 more points and extended their lead to 66-44. Finally, after over five minutes without a point, Alabama graduate forward Allie Craig Cruce drained a 3-pointer from the wing.

Both sides traded baskets once again, resulting in a 74-55 Missouri advantage with three minutes remaining in the game. Alabama outscored the Tigers 6-3 to close out the game, but Missouri redshirt freshman Skylah Travis knocked down the game’s final basket on a layup, her first points in SEC play. 

The Tigers relied on defense to carry them to victory, but three players scored in double-figures. Williams led all scorers with 18 points on a perfect 7-7 from the field and a 4-4 mark from the free throw line. Hansen added 17 points while Blackwell posted her 11th consecutive double-double and 17th overall with 16 points and 11 rebounds. 

“I feel like [Williams] has grown so much, and it was exciting to see her have this kind of night,” Pingeton said. “I thought she was active on both ends of the court for us.”

Four players scored in double-figures for Alabama, including a team-high 15 points from Mingo-Young and 14 points from senior guard Megan Abrams. Barber and graduate center Jada Rice added 12 points apiece. 

Missouri never looked back after taking the lead with eight and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter and extended its lead all the way to 23 points before winning by 16. The Tigers finished 59.6% from the field, scored 17 points on 11 Alabama turnovers and finished with 25 bench points.

“I say this after wins and I say it after losses,” Pingeton said. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s all about our mission, and the mission is to be playing in March.”

With the victory, Missouri improved to 16-6 overall and 5-4 in SEC play.
Edited by Riley Gearhart | rgearhart@themaneater.com