University of Missouri
Florida A&M
Mizzou Outlasts Florida A&M, 69-65
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Three Tigers scored in double figures to lead the University of Missouri women's basketball team to a 69-65 victory over Florida A&M University in Mizzou's first game of the Seminole Classic Friday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla. The Tigers improve to 3-1 on the season while the Rattlers fall to 3-1.
Junior Shakara Jones paced the Tigers with 17 points, four assists and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Junior RaeShara Brown had 16 points, just one off her career high, and eight boards, while senior Amanda Hanneman added 13 points. Additionally, sophomore BreAnna Brock recorded a career high four blocks during the game.
The two teams stayed tight early in the contest, with the Rattlers taking a 14-13 advantage with Antonia Bennett hit a three with 11:55 on the clock. Missouri responded with a 9-0 run, with five points from Johnson, as the Tigers gained a 22-14 lead with 9:35 left in the first.
Florida A&M's offense came on and used eight points from Christian Rateree to cut Mizzou's advantage to two, 24-22, with seven minutes remaining. Again up by two, 27-25, with just over six minutes on the clock, senior Marissa Scott nailed a three-pointer and Brown scored five straight points for a 37-27 Tiger advantage with 4:05 left in the first. Missouri held the Rattlers off and entered the break with a 39-30 lead.
The Tigers opened up an 11-point lead, 41-30, when Jones hit a layup early in the second but Florida A&M got hot from the floor and knotted the game at 53-53 with 10:43 on the clock after Deidra Jones scored six straight points for the Rattlers.
With Missouri clinging to a 58-57 lead, Brown made a layup as the shot clock expired and another fast break layup on the Tigers' next possession for a five-point, 62-57 game. The Rattlers came back with two free throws but Hanneman sank a three-pointer as Mizzou gained a 65-59 advantage with 5:18 remaining in the game.
A jumper by Deidra Jones brought the Rattler's back within three, 66-63, with 2:18 left on the clock but the Tigers held off the Florida A&M charge with great defense down the stretch for a 69-65 victory.
Missouri faces Seminole Classic host and No. 9 Florida State on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) in Tallahassee, Fla. The Tigers then return to Mizzou Arena for a Saturday afternoon contest with Ball State on Dec. 5 at 12:30 p.m.
