University of Missouri
Saint Mary's
Missouri Claims Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic Title
11/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2006
MORAGA, Calif. - Carlynn Savant turned in her fifth career double-double and Blair Hardiek scored a career-high 15 points in leading Missouri to a 79-64 win over Saint Mary's as the Tigers captured the Hilton Concord Classic title at McKeon Pavilion on Saturday.
The Tigers (5-1) won their third consecutive regular-season tournament title and completed their eight-day California road trip with a 2-1 mark.
Savant seemed to be everywhere on Saturday as she had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, to go along with three blocks and three steals. Meanwhile, Hardiek was 5-of-9 shooting and dished out four assists.
Missouri shot 51 percent from the floor and held a 42-36 edge on the glass. Alyssa Hollins scored 18 points to lead all scorers as she made 3-of-5 from outside to continue her hot shooting this season. The sophomore has now connected on 63 percent of her three-point attempts.
Senior Tiffany Brooks saw just 28 minutes of action while battling foul trouble but did finish with 12 points and earned Tournament MVP honors for her performances on Friday and Saturday. She had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in the victory over Alabama. Hollins was also named to the all-tournament team. She finished 7-for-12 from behind the arc in the two contests.
Saint Mary's (2-2) was held to 37 percent shooting and never got the deficit into single-digits following a Hollins three from the top of the key with 9:02 to play. Jontelle Smith led three Gaels in double figures with 13 points.
The Tigers began to pull away from the Gaels with a 13-3 run over a six-minute span midway through the first half. MU took a 39-25 lead into the locker room.
Missouri never trailed in the game and answered every Saint Mary's run with one if its own. The biggest of those came midway through the second half as the Gaels trimmed a 14-point Tiger lead down to seven points. Mizzou came out of a 30-second time out with a jumper by Hardiek and Hollins' aforementioned 3-pointer. Both squads traded baskets for the next eight made field goals before Hardiek knocked down another three. That basket made it 68-52 Missouri with 3:56 to play.
The Tigers got lay-ups from Brooks and EeTisha Riddle before closing the game with seven free throws while holding the Gaels to three field goals over the final 3:10.
Saint Mary's kept Missouri within striking distance by getting to the charity stripe 14 more times than the Tigers over the first 17 minutes of the second half. Mizzou was whistled for 13 fouls compared to five for the home-standing Gaels during the same stretch.
The Tigers turned the ball over a season-high 23 times but were strong on the defensive end as they allowed the Gaels just nine points off those miscues.
The Tigers will return to action next Friday and Saturday when they host the 29th Annual State Farm Tiger Classic at Mizzou Arena. Alabama A&M, Creighton and Eastern Illinois will join Mizzou in the field.
