University of Missouri
Oklahoma City
Tigers Pick Up 68-66 Exhibition Victory
11/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team held off a late charge to earn a 68-66 exhibition victory over the Oklahoma City University Stars Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Senior RaeShara Brown led the Tigers with 23 points.
With Mizzou leading 68-66 and 7.4 seconds on the clock, Brown missed two free throws to give the Stars one last chance for the win. Oklahoma City raced down the floor but Donica Cosby's three-point attempt rimmed out to preserve Missouri's win.
Brown got the Tigers off to a strong start as the senior scored the team's first seven points. Brown connected on two layups and nailed a three-pointer as Mizzou took an early 7-5 lead with 18:09 left in the first frame. Missouri offense remained hot and eventually built a 26-14 advantage with 8:46 on the clock. Four different Tigers scored during the stretch, including eight points from senior Shakara Jones.
The Stars came roaring back with a run of their own in the final few minutes of the first half. With Missouri nursing a 31-27 lead, the Tigers used a layup from Jones and a short jumper from junior Bailey Gee to go back up eight, 35-27, with 2:07 remaining.
Oklahoma City finished the half on a 5-0 run to cut Missouri's lead to 35-32 at the break.
The Stars continued to their offensive output early in the second frame, as the visitors took a 41-40 advantage after Desiree Jeffries hit two free throws at the 15:38 mark. Brown put Mizzou right back on top 30 seconds later after making two free throws of her own for a 42-41 game. The Tigers then reeled off eight straight points, including threes from Brown and senior Jasmyn Otote, as the team took a 50-41 advantage with 13:32 left in the contest.
A free throw from sophomore Sydney Crafton gave Mizzou its biggest lead of the second half, 59-48, with 7:19 on the clock. But the Stars came storming back with a 16-7 run over the next 7:39 to trim Missouri's lead to 66-64 after Tiffany Goldwire hit a free throw with 40 seconds remaining.
The Tigers let their shot clock tick down before Brown drove into the lane and nailed a jumper with 13 seconds left for a 68-64 game. The Stars came right back and used a jumper from Jeffries to again trim Missouri's lead back to two, 68-66.
Brown also paced the Tigers with five assists to go along with seven rebounds and three steals. Jones and Flores joined Brown in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively. The pair and Crafton all led the team with eight boards.
Mizzou officially opens the 2010-11 season with a 5 p.m. contest against Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, Nov. 12. The team remains on the road to face the Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m.
