University of Missouri
UC Riverside
Mizzou Outlasts UC Riverside, 68-65
12/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior Shakara Jones became the 28th player in Tiger history to reach 1,000 points as the University of Missouri women's basketball team earned a 68-65 win over the UC Riverside Highlanders Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. The win improved Mizzou's record to 7-4 on the year, while the Highlanders fell to 6-4.
Jones ended the game with 1,005 career points after scoring 13 in the contest, to go along with eight rebounds. Sophomore Christine Flores scored a game high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from behind the arc. She also tallied eight rebounds and four assists. They were joined in double figures by senior RaeShara Brown and sophomore Sydney Crafton, who had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Tigers led by 10, 65-55, with 1:26 remaining in the game but the Highlanders used a layup from Brittany Waddell and four free throws from Tre'Shonti Nottingham for a 65-61 game with 48 seconds left. After Flores hit one-of-two freebies, Nottingham hit a layup to bring the Highlanders within three, 66-63, with 16 seconds on the clock. Brown then hit two free throws after getting fouled but Nottingham again answered with a layup with just three seconds left in the game. UC Riverside was able to steal Mizzou's inbounds play but could not get a shot off to preserve Missouri's 68-65 victory.
UC Riverside jumped out to an early 13-4 advantage just over five minutes into the contest. Mizzou went inside to cut its deficit, as Jones hit a jumper to end the Highlander run and Brock nailed back-to-back layups for a 13-10 UC Riverside lead with 13:17 remaining in the first frame. The Highlanders answered with a basket but the Tigers used consecutive three-pointers from sophomores Sydney Crafton and Trenee Thornton to take its first lead of the game, 16-15, with 10:05 on the clock.
After another Highlander basket, Flores hit another three for Missouri to jumpstart a 15-2 run, including two threes from Flores and another from Crafton, as Mizzou took a 31-19 lead with 5:29 left in the first. From the 14:31 mark to Crafton's basket, the Tigers outscored the Highlanders 25-6.
UC Riverside's offense found its groove in the remaining minutes to cut Mizzou's lead to 37-30 at the break.
The Tigers came out firing in the second half, with layups from Jones, Crafton and Jones again as MU took a 43-30 advantage with 18:43 remaining in the game. Jones' second basket marked the 999th and 1,000th points in her career.
Rheya Neabors then made three consecutive baskets and Alyssa Morris hit another as UC Riverside reeled off eight points in a row to get within five, 43-38, two minutes later. Mizzou again responded to take a 57-45 lead with 8:39 remaining after Brown nailed a jumper after grabbing an offensive board.
The Tigers made a season high eight three-pointers in the game, including five in the opening 20 minutes.
Mizzou is off until Wednesday, Dec. 29 when the Tigers host the UAB Blazers at 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.
