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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou Women's Basketball team nailed 13 three-pointers as a team, falling, 83-69, in a tight, physical contest with No. 14 Kentucky. Four different Tigers reached double figures as sophomore Sierra Michaelis poured in a team-best 16 points and added seven rebounds and six assists. Junior Maddie Stock chipped in 14 points off the bench.
Mizzou's 13 3-pointers were the most allowed by the 14th-ranked Wildcats this season and the Tigers' nine first-half makes from distance were the most by the Tigers in a single half this season. Three different Tigers finished with at least three triples for the first time this season. In addition to the sharp shooting from the outside, Mizzou got a nice performance from sophomore Jordan Frericks, who tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 boards.
Mizzou got off to a hot start and set the tone by sinking its first three shots behind the arc. The Tigers went on to hit a season-high nine threes and shot 46 percent from the field in the first half. Additionally, they dished out 11 assists in the opening frame.
Defensively, the Tigers combined hustle with resilience to keep pace with Kentucky. Mizzou erased seven-point deficits twice to stay within one possession at halftime. With the Tigers trailing, 20-13, Stock entered the game and followed a Michaelis layup with her first of four threes and a driving bucket to knot the game.
Ten minutes later, Kentucky pushed out to a 41-34 advantage, but again Mizzou responded. Senior sharpshooter Morgan Eye buried a deep trey and the Tigers held the Wildcats to just one field goal in the last 3:30 of the half. Eye finished the contest with 13 points and seven rebounds and the Wildcats led 43-40 at the break.
To open the final 20 minutes, Mizzou started off with another three-pointer from Eye. Frericks put together a big second half performance, grabbing nine rebounds for the Tigers. Frericks ended the game with 10 points and 13 rebounds, recording her sixth double-double of the season. But despite a valiant effort from the Tigers, the Wildcats pulled away down the stretch.
After facing four ranked opponents in six games, the Tigers now hit the road to take on Florida for the second time this season. Mizzou downed the Gators 66-47 earlier this month. Tip from Gainesville, Fla., is set for 6 p.m. on Jan. 29. For all the latest on Mizzou women's basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouWBB.