University of Missouri
Oklahoma State
Tigers Drop Close Battle to Oklahoma State, 62-58
1/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2012
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Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers (10-7, 0-6) lost to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (11-4, 3-3) on Saturday (Jan. 21) in Mizzou Arena by a final score of 62-58. Mizzou received a big boost from leading scorer Christine Flores, who tallied a game-high 20 points. Morgan Eye also contributed with 11 points as the Tigers fell just short of their first Big 12 win of the season. A season high 3,015 fans were in attendance for the contest.
The first basket was not registered in the game until the 16:10 mark, when Oklahoma State jumped out to a 2-0 lead, a score that was carried into the under-16 media timeout. The Cowgirls' lead grew to 4-0 after a Mizzou turnover turned into a fast break layup. Liene Priede broke the scoreless drought for Mizzou, hitting a corner three-pointer to end a 0-for-5 start shooting from the field. The Cowgirls were quick to answer, though, and hit a three to boost the lead back to four, then added a layup to boost the lead to six.
Eye responded with a three of her own at the 13-minute mark to cut the lead back to three points. Christine Flores got on the board with a layup to cut the deficit to a single point, but again, Oklahoma State responded with a three to push the lead back to four points. Another Cowgirl layup pushed the lead to 14-8, and Flores added a two-point jump shot. The Cowgirls responded by nailing a three on their ensuing possession, producing a 17-10 advantage.
Flores continued her hot streak by nailing a three pointer at the 9:44 mark, again reducing the deficit to four points. A transition opportunity for Oklahoma State on their next possession led to hitting one of two free throws, and the Cowgirls added a three shortly after to build the lead back to eight, 21-13 as the game went to the under-8 minute mark. Bree Fowler answered a Cowgirl layup by hitting a straightaway three pointer to cut the deficit to seven points. A pair of free throws by BreAnna Brock made the difference just five points, and Eye added another three to reduce the deficit to just two. After a Cowgirl turnover, Eye added her third three pointer of the game to give Mizzou their first lead, 24-23.
After an Oklahoma State timeout, Flores connected on her third layup of the game to push the Tiger lead to three, capping a 13-0 run by the Tigers. The Cowgirls hit a layup to end the run, reducing the lead to 26-25, and retook the lead at the 2:42 mark with a made layup. Two made free throws by Brock retied the game at 28. Oklahoma State took advantage of two Missouri turnovers in the final minute with scores, and led 32-28, but Priede's buzzer-beating turnaround jumper made the halftime score 32-30 Cowgirls.
Just as in the first half, Oklahoma State opened the scoring with a three to increase the lead to five before Brock answered for Mizzou with a layup and foul shot to cut the lead back to two. The Cowgirls increased their lead with another three, making the score 38-33. Priede answered with a two point jumper for Mizzou, the first shot to come outside the paint for the Tigers in the second half at the 16:29 mark. Oklahoma State responded with a three, giving the Cowgirls a six point lead at the 15:15 mark, and expanded the lead to nine with 14 minutes left to play. After a Brock free throw, Oklahoma State hit another three to build the lead to 11, their largest of the game.
Flores responded with a three of her own to cut the deficit back to single digits, but the Cowgirls responded with a layup on the other end to push their lead back to ten at the under-12 media timeout. Kyley Simmons' three-pointer cut the lead to seven, but Oklahoma State responded with a three on their next possession to push the lead back to ten. Flores added back-to-back three pointers to quickly cut the deficit to four. Trailing by seven, Priede hit a three pointer to bring the score to 55-51. Bailey Gee then registered her first points with a layup and free throw after being fouled, cutting the Oklahoma State advantage to one.
Trailing by four, Eye and Flores combined to make three of four free throws, leaving a 58-57 advantage for Oklahoma State with two minutes remaining. The Tigers would not get closer than two points for the rest of the game, and ultimately fell to the Cowgirls 62-58.
Keep track of Mizzou women's basketball on MUTigers.com or the team twitter page (@MissouriWBB) for up to the minute news on the Tigers.
