University of Missouri
16-11, 5-9SEC
Tennessee
22-5, 11-3SEC
Kulas and Eye Shine as Lady Vols Narrowly Escape Tigers
2/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2014
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Columbia, Mo. - Senior Bri Kulas and sophomore Morgan Eye led the charge for the Tigers as they played host to the No. 10 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Sunday. Despite the team's best efforts, Mizzou ultimately fell to the Lady Vols, 56-50. The Tigers are now 16-11 overall this season and 5-9 in SEC play.
The matchup against Tennessee garnered 5,017 in attendance, the seventh highest figure for a home game in Mizzou history. Freshman Kayla McDowell and Kulas opened the game strong, notching 17 of the Tigers' first 19 points as Mizzou trailed Tennessee by just three points going into half, 25-22.
In addition to Kulas and McDowell's impressive showing, the Tigers were aided by their tremendous rebounding performance. Though Tennessee has posted the best rebounding margin in the SEC at +11.4 rebounds per game, the Tigers did not let the Lady Vols clean up the glass. After the first half, Missouri had 21 rebounds compared to Tennessee's 25.
Paired with a gritty rebounding performance, the Tigers' impressive defensive efforts helped keep the game in a virtual dead heat in the first half. At intermission, Missouri had held Tennessee to 36-percent from the field, and 29-percent from three, noticeably lower than their season figures of 47-percent, and 38-percent, respectively.
In the second half, Tennessee's strong shooting drew separation between the two teams, but Missouri was able to keep it close, seldom allowing a deficit larger than 15 points. After trailing by as many as 16, the Tigers cut the deficit down to three points with just over one minute left in the game.
Though the Tigers were able to keep Tennessee within arm's reach, Mizzou couldn't get over the hump in the final minute. With the loss, Mizzou falls to 16-11 on the year, and 5-9 in conference play.
Kulas finished the night as the leading scorer, putting up 22 points to go with six rebounds. Morgan Eye also tallied 15 points with four three-point makes, giving her the nation's lead in three-point makes with 95 on the year. McDowell ended with nine points and six boards.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will host Ole Miss on Thursday, Feb. 27 for their last regular season home game of the year. Earlier this year, the Tigers beat Ole Miss 85-76 in Oxford. Missouri's senior class will be honored for senior night. The game tips off at 7 p.m..
Keep checking in to MUTigers.com for more information on Mizzou Women's Basketball. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouWBB) and Facebook (facebook.com/MizzouWBB).
