University of Missouri
Bradley
Mizzou Blows Past Bradley, 83-54
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Four players scored in double figures as the Missouri women's basketball team recorded its third consecutive victory in an 83-53 win over Bradley Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers improve to 4-4 on the year while the Braves fall to 6-2.
Junior Jessra Johnson and redshirt freshman Bekah Mills each scored 16 points to pace Mizzou. Mills, whose 16 points were a career high, also added a personal best six rebounds. Senior Alyssa Hollins scored 14 points and sophomore RaeShara Brown posted a career high 12 points to go along with four steals.
"I was really proud of our defense tonight, I think we keep getting better and better in that area," Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "Bradley is a good team. They've been playing really well and we kept their scorers well below their averages. Hats off to our defense."
The Tigers scored the first bucket of the game and ran out to a 9-2 advantage, including two layups from Brown off feeds from Mills, with 17:25 left in the first frame. Mizzou continued to built its lead and, after a three-pointer from Johnson, lead 21-8 with 13:34 on the clock.
Bradley hit fire and ran off to a 15-4 run of its own to cut Missouri's lead to two, 25-23, when Raisa Taylor hit a layup with 5:19 remaining in the first half.
With Mizzou still leading by two, 27-25, five consecutive free throws jumpstarted another Mizzou run as the squad reeled off the final 12 points of the first frame, including a layup from junior Marissa Scott as time expired, to give Missouri a 39-25 lead at the break.
Mills hit three treys early in the second half to keep the feisty Braves at bay and helped the Tigers increase its lead to 20, 72-52, after converting two free throws with 6:04 left in the game. Mizzou continued to pour on the pressure to outscore Bradley 11-2 in the final minutes of the contest for an 83-54 final.
The Tigers return to Mizzou Arena on Sunday, Dec. 14 for a 2 p.m. contest with UT Martin before traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for a game against Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
