Nov. 15, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore forward Jessra Johnson notched her first career double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds, both career highs, to help propel the Missouri women's basketball team to a 69-51 win over Eastern Illinois on Thursday night at Mizzou Arena.
Missouri (2-0) also received 20 points and five assists from junior guard Alyssa Hollins while freshman forward Shakara Jones added 15 points.
"I thought we learned a lot throughout the game and that's what's exciting as a coach," Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "We learned some things defensively; we got better in a lot of areas. Offensively we learned how to be a little more patient and how to work the ball around better. This was a game of continuing to learn and get better."
The Tigers built their biggest lead of the first half after sophomore guard Toy Richbow gathered a steal and hit a fast-break layup and the ensuing foul shot to put Mizzou on top 16-8 with 9:30 left in the first frame.
Eastern Illinois responded with an 11-4 run to cut Mizzou's lead to just one after Jessica Huffman hit a jumper but Jones knocked in a three-pointer with 5:59 remaining in the half for a 23-19 Tiger lead. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the frame and headed into halftime with Missouri ahead 29-24.
The Tigers came out strong in the second half and ran off a 16-5 run, including six points from Johnson and five from Hollins, to give Mizzou a 45-29 lead with 14:39 remaining in the game. Mizzou gradually built its lead as the second half continued and Missouri earned its biggest lead of the night, 69-51, after Johnson closed out scoring with a free throw for an 18-point victory.
Dominique Sims paced Eastern Illinois (0-3) with 15 points and Jessica Huffman had 12.
The next Tigers hit the road for a contest against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in Brookings, S.D. Mizzou then heads to Boca Raton, Fla., for the Florida Atlantic Invitational. In the tournament, Missouri will face Samford on Saturday, Nov. 24 and Robert Morris on Sunday, Nov. 25, both at 12 p.m. CDT.