University of Missouri
Oklahoma State
Mizzou Suffers 68-60 Defeat
1/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team remained close for most of the second half but suffered a 68-60 defeat to Oklahoma State on Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers drop to 10-9 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 Conference play while the Cowgirls improve to 13-5 and 2-3.
Senior Alyssa Hollins paced Mizzou with 17 points while sophomore Shakara Jones joined Hollins in double figures with 15. Junior Jessra Johnson pulled down 10 rebounds and redshirt freshman Bekah Mills recorded four assists and a career high four blocks.
Oklahoma State came out strong to start the game and went up 12-6 when Andrea Riley nailed a three-pointer with 13:50 on the clock.
After Riley hit another three-pointer to put up the Cowgirls' lead to 14, 30-16, Mizzou responded with a 9-0 run, capped by two free throws from Hollins with 14 seconds remaining in the first half. The run brought the Tigers back within five, 30-25, but Riley made a driving layup as time expired for a 32-25 Oklahoma State advantage at the break.
The visitors hit three of their first four shot attempts to open the second half and built their lead to 13, 42-29, after Shaunte' Smith made a jumper with 16:30 on the clock.
Mizzou scored the next seven points, including five from Jones, to pull within five, 42-37, at the 14:51 mark. The Tigers kept close over the next five minutes but a 10-2 Cowgirl run put Missouri back down 13, 57-42, with 7:42 remaining.
Two three-pointers from Hollins, including one with 1:13 left, cut Oklahoma State's lead to seven, 63-56. However the Cowgirls hit five-of-six free throws in the final 1:10 to give them a 68-60 victory.
Missouri travels to Norman, Okla., for a game against the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 before hitting the road again on Wednesday, Feb. 4 for a contest against No. 12/14 Kansas State at 7 p.m. The game with the Wildcats will be broadcast live on FSN Kansas City.
