University of Missouri
Western Illinois
M Nets Final 10 Points to Beat Western Illinois
11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's basketball team scored the final 10 points of the game to pick up its first victory of the year, a 61-54 win over Western Illinois at Mizzou Arena on Saturday night. Junior Jessra Johnson notched a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Tigers improved to 1-2 overall while the Westerwinds dropped to 1-2 on the year.
Down three, 54-51, with 3:19 left to play, Johnson passed out of a double team to sophomore Shakara Jones, who was wide open under the basket and got the Tigers within one. Sophomore RaeShara Brown nabbed a steal on the next possession and Jones gave Mizzou the lead, 55-54, off a feed from senior Alyssa Hollins with 2:15 on the clock.
With just under a minute left, Johnson converted a layup to put Mizzou up three, 57-54, and Hollins hit four free throws in the final seconds to secure the Tiger victory.
Brown had career highs with seven points and five steals and Johnson knocked down a personal best four three-pointers in the contest.
"The best thing about this game, obviously, is a win," Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "Western (Illinois) gave us a handful tonight. We were a little out of sorts offensively and defensively but once we settled down we took control of the game. We had some big plays, whether it's Jessra coming in hitting threes and getting some rebound putbacks or Alyssa making those free throws at the end. I'm proud of them for pulling it out."
The two teams traded baskets for the opening minutes before the Tigers used a three-pointer from Johnson and a jumper from Hollins to take a 9-6 lead with 14:05 left in the first. Mizzou then opened its biggest lead of the game, 13-8, five minutes later when Johnson hit a long jumper.
The lead went back and forth for the rest of the half until Western Illinois picked up a steal with six seconds left and Ann Borgertpoepping banked in a trey as time expired to send the Westerwinds into the break with a 32-30 advantage.
Mizzou opened the second half on an 11-4 run on two threes from Johnson, another from Mills and a layup from freshman Kendra Frazier for a 41-36 advantage with 16:33 on the clock. The Westerwinds stormed back to take a 43-41 lead but Brown nabbed a steal and converted a breakaway layup to knot the score at 43-43.
The Tigers return to Mizzou Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 25 for a 6:30 p.m. contest against the Indiana Hoosiers. Mizzou then travels to Evanston, Ill., to compete in the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational. On Saturday, Nov. 29, the Tigers will face the Holy Cross Crusaders at Noon before a 3 p.m. contest against host Northwestern on Sunday, Nov. 30.
