University of Missouri
Texas
Missouri Drops Overtime Heartbreaker To No. 23 Texas, 79-77
1/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2007
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EeTisha Riddle scored a career-high 31 points but Missouri lost a heartbreaker to No. 23 Texas, 79-77, in overtime at Mizzou Arena Wednesday night.
Riddle finished with a career-high tying 13 rebounds for her 10th career double-double. The 31 points were the fifth time a Tiger has surpassed 30 points in the three-year history of Mizzou Arena. Tiffany Brooks had 22 points, three assists, three steals for Missouri (13-3, 1-2 Big 12).
Carlynn Savant had 10 rebounds and seven points as she scored her 800th career point in the game's opening minutes.
Tiffany Jackson led five Texas (12-4, 1-1) players in double-figures with 22 points and eight rebounds. Carla Cotijo added 15 points and six assists in 45 minutes.
With the score tied at 77 following a Jackson jumper with 18 seconds left in overtime, Missouri was unable to get a shot off and Brooks was called for a loose-ball foul that sent Earnesia Williams to the line with five seconds left. Williams made both shots to give UT the lead.
MU ran an inbounds play but Marchele Campbell's long pass to an open Alyssa Hollins sailed on her and slipped through Hollins' outstretched fingers and out of bounds with eight-tenths of a second left.
The contest featured 16 lead changes and 11 tie scores.
After the first half it appeared to look like the game would be a shootout as Mizzou led 43-38 and the teams combined to shoot 52 percent, including a blistering 62.5 for the Tigers. MU made 12-consecutive field goals at one point as it turned an 16-5 deficit into a 38-36 lead with 5:07 to go in the frame. The Tigers led 43-38 at the break.
For as much offense as the first half showed, the second 20 minutes featured tighter defense and more drama.
A basket by Riddle gave MU a seven-point lead one minute into the half. Texas slowly chipped away and regained the lead at 51-49 with 14:45 to play. Over the next 12 minutes the lead switched hands eight times. A Brooks free throw with 2:12 made it 69-68 UT.
After neither team scored on the next five possessions, Riddle corralled a Savant miss from the corner and fed Hollins who drained her third triple of the night from the same spot Savant was just at, giving the Tigers a 71-69 lead with 22 seconds left.
But Texas had one last chance in regulation as Williams grabbed her own miss in traffic in the lane and tied it at 71 to force the extra session.
Texas led by four in the overtime before Mizzou tied it on consecutive baskets by Riddle and Brooks, before Savant gave the Tigers a 77-75 lead with 35 seconds to play.
The loss snaps Missouri's nine-game home winning streak. The Tigers out-rebounded the Longhorns 36-33 but committed 25 turnovers.
Missouri will return to action on Saturday when it plays at Kansas State (13-2, 1-1). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by FSN Midwest.
