University of Missouri
Nebraska
Missouri Stuns No. 19 Nebraska, 65-53
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2007
LINCOLN, Neb. - Carlynn Savant recorded her fourth double-double this year to lead Missouri to a 65-53 upset win over No. 19/20 Nebraska at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday.
Missouri (16-10, 4-9 Big 12) used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to take a 45-42 lead with 8:09 to play. From there, the Tigers made a 3-pointer, two baskets in the lane and 13-of-16 free throws to earn their first win over a ranked opponent in five tries this season.
The win also snapped a streak of 16-straight road losses to ranked teams. Missouri's last road win over a ranked team came when it upset fourth-ranked Georgia in the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
Savant finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and drew three charges, while EeTisha Riddle added 16, with 14 coming in the final 11 minutes.
The first half saw seven ties and 10 lead changes as the teams were knotted at 29 heading into the locker room. Missouri held its largest lead of the half at 7-2 following a Tiffany Brooks three-point play. In fact, Brooks made her first five shots and scored the first 11 for MU.
The Tigers got strong production from its reserves in the opening half when three starters were forced to the bench with two fouls. Jessra Johnson played eight minutes in the first half and made two clutch 3-pointers to finish with six points while adding four boards.
The teams combined for 22 turnovers in the period and were whistled for 38 in the game. 45 fouls were also called resulting in 47 free throw attempts.
NU scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 35-29 lead 2:05 into the period. The Huskers led 42-35 with 11:01 to play following a lay-up by Cory Montgomery. Then Mizzou went on its largest run of the contest.
Mizzou scored 10 unanswered as Riddle and Savant combined for every point - including eight from Riddle. Riddle's 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 45-42 MU and gave the Tigers their first lead since the 00:36 mark of the first half.
NU's Jelena Spiric made two free throws before Kassie Drew and Riddle pushed the lead back to five with four freebies of their own. The Huskers trimmed the margin to 49-48 with 4:38 to play but that was as close as they would get.
Then Brooks forced a travel by Kiera Hardy and Savant made a huge shot from the left wing on an out-of-bounds play. Her step-back 3-pointer gave MU an eight-point cushion to keep the Huskers at a safe distance.
Missouri outscored NU 30-11 over the final 11 minutes of the contest. The Tigers also held a commanding 44-32 edge on the glass. Nebraska came into the contest allowing an average of just 33.7 rebounds to Big 12 opponents - the fewest in the league.
The win marked Mizzou's seventh-consecutive in Lincoln. The road team has now won the last nine in the series.
Nebraska (21-6, 9-4) was led by Kelsey Griffin's 16 points and six rebounds. Hardy finished with 12 points and seven turnovers. MU's defense held the Huskers to just three field goals over the final 16:30.
Missouri will return home to face Kansas State on Wednesday night. Tip-off at Mizzou Arena is set for 8:06 p.m.
