University of Missouri
South Dakota State
Mizzou Falls 55-50 in Season Opener
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a hard fought 55-50 loss to South Dakota State on Friday night at Mizzou Arena. Three different Tigers scored in double figures, led by sophomore Shakara Jones, who had 16 points.
"I'm very disappointed in the loss but I'm very encouraged about our team.," Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "I thought we did a good job defensively in the first half in holding them to 16 percent (shooting). This is the first mile in a marathon. We have lots of miles left to go and we can build off of this. "
Joining Jones in double figures were senior Alyssa Hollins, who had 13, and junior Jessra Johnson, who posted 11. Jones and sophomore RaeShara Brown both grabbed a team high six rebounds.
After South Dakota State took an early 4-2 lead with 17:26 on the clock, Mizzou reeled off nine consecutive points and forced a shot clock violation to post an 11-4 lead with 15:18 left. During the run, Jones converted a three-point play and hit a layup while Hollins and Brown added baskets.
The Tigers kept their lead throughout the first half and grabbed its biggest lead of the game, 24-15, when freshman Kendra Frazier found redshirt freshman Bekah Mills for a layup with 1:28 on the clock. The Jackrabbits' Jennie Sunnarborg hit two free throws with 1:17 left for a 24-17 Missouri halftime advantage.
A basket from Hollins with 18:¬¬¬40 left in the second halted a 6-0 Jackrabbit run to put Mizzou's lead at 26-23. Mizzou went back up seven, 30-23, when Johnson hit a jumper and made the ensuing free throw, but South Dakota State stormed back to take a 31-30 lead with 14:20 remaining in the game.
The score remained tight for the rest of the game, as Missouri tied it up at 43-43 when Hollins made one-of-two free throws with 5:35 left. The Jackrabbits went back ahead but two free throws by Jones with 52 seconds on the clock got the Tigers within two, 52-50. South Dakota State hit three-of-four free throws in the final minute to give the Jackrabbits a 55-50 victory.
The Tigers travel to Champaign, Ill., on Wednesday, Nov. 19 for an 8:30 p.m. contest against Big Ten Conference foe Illinois. The contest will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Mizzou returns to Mizzou Arena against Western Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
