University of Missouri
21-9, 11-5SEC
Alabama
17-12, 5-11SEC
No. 24 @MizzouWBB Outlasts Alabama, 65-56, Clinches Double Bye in SEC Tournament
2/26/2017 5:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Tigers earned 11 conference victories for the first time since 1989-90
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball (21-9, 11-5) finished the regular season in style, earning a gritty 65-56 road win over Alabama on Sunday. With the win, the Tigers clinched the No. 3 seed and a double bye in next week's SEC Tournament.
No. 24 Mizzou wrapped up the regular season with 11 conference victories for the first time since 1989-90. The Tigers have won 10 of their past 12 games and five straight contests. Mizzou now has two separate win streaks of at least five games in conference play for the first time in program history.
Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) and senior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) led the way for Mizzou on Sunday, combining for 42 of the Tigers' 65 points. Michaelis scored a game-high 22 points behind four three-pointers. The savvy senior notched 10 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter alone, making 4-of-4 field goal attempts in the final frame to steer Mizzou to a victory.
Cunningham poured in 20 points, including 15 in the second half. She has reached 20 points in four consecutive games to close the regular season, averaging 26.5 points per game in that span. Cunningham made 5-of-6 free throws Sunday and has now converted 38 of her last 42 foul shots.
Sophomore Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) and redshirt senior Lindsey Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) combined to post 17 points and 13 rebounds. Michaelis added eight rebounds for the second straight game as Mizzou outrebounded Alabama, 42-29. The Tigers have beaten their opponents on the glass 22 times in 30 games this season.
After a slow opening quarter for both teams, Mizzou raced out to a 17-7 lead behind a 7-0 run to open the second frame. Sophie Cunningham and Michaelis engineered the run with a pair of threes each and a jumper. After Porter tacked on a three-pointer, the Tigers led 20-9 with 7:46 remaining in the half.
Alabama responded though, and surged in front with a run of its own. The Crimson Tide took a slim 29-26 advantage into halftime. After an even third quarter that saw Mizzou trim Alabama's lead to two, the Tigers catapulted ahead with a Sophie Cunningham triple. Mizzou extended its lead to 58-51 when Michaelis and Sophie Cunningham hit two more treys, but again Alabama fought back with five unanswered points.
With Mizzou clinging to a 58-56 edge, Michaelis drained her second clutch triple of the game and added another jump shot on the ensuing offensive possession to ice the contest in the final minutes.
Mizzou has back-to-back 21-win seasons for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85.
The Tigers now turn to the postseason, which begins with the 2017 SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C. With a double bye locked up, Mizzou rests until the quarterfinals on Friday.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouWBB) and like the team on Facebook (Mizzou Women's Basketball) and Instagram (MizzouWBB).
