University of Missouri
9-2
Wake Forest
7-5
Michaelis' Career-Night Leads Tigers Over Wake Forest
12/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats |
Box Score 
Winston-Salem, N.C. - A career-effort from sophomore Sierra Michaelis led the Tigers over Wake Forest, 79-64, on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 20). Michaelis tallied a career-best 21 points in the win, also grabbing five boards and dishing two assists. Junior Juanita Robinson also finished with a career-best 14 points in the contest, while sophomore Jordan Frericks contributed 20 points and nine rebounds. Saturday's win improves the Tigers to 9-2 on the season.
The Tigers came out to a strong start to the game, holding Wake Forest scoreless for the first four minutes of the game. The Tigers got off to a 9-0 lead while forcing four Demon Deacon fouls before allowing Wake to get on the board. Mizzou held Wake Forest to just 26-percent shooting in the first half, forcing the Demon Deacons to the outside. The Tigers held their lead for most of the half, but a Wake Forest triple with just 1:35 on the clock tied the score at 29. Wake Forest took the lead thanks to a few makes from the free throw line, but Mizzou didn't let up on its defensive efforts.
The Tigers held Wake Forest's top scorer to just two first-half points while out-rebounding the Demon Deacons 27-19. Sophomore Sierra Michaelis finished the first half leading all players with nine points overall. Michaelis was 3-for-4 from the field in the half. Robinson tallied eight first-half points thanks to a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe. Robinson was 11-for-19 from the line going into Saturday's game.
The halftime deficit didn't get the Tigers down, Mizzou put up the first four points in the half to get back in the lead right off the bat. After a quick tie with just under 19 minutes on the clock, Mizzou took the lead and held on tight. With just over four minutes to play, the Tigers used an 8-0 run to distance themselves from the Demon Deacons and gain a 15-point lead in the game.
Mizzou held Wake Forest to just 30-percent shooting on the day while shooting 46-percent from the field. The Tigers scored 20 points off 14 Demon Deacon turnovers, while out-rebounding the Deacons 44-31 overall.
The Tigers return to Columbia to host UT Martin on Monday, Dec. 22 in a 7 p.m. contest. The game marks the final contest in MIzzou's Monday Punch Card promotion, fans should bring their punch cards to earn their final punch for a Mizzou Women's Basketball tote bag.
For more information on Mizzou Women's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouWBB) and check into MUTigers.com.
