University of Missouri
15-2, 2-2SEC
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Mississippi State
16-2, 3-1SEC
#24 @MizzouWBB Takes Down #6 Mississippi State, 66-54
1/14/2016 11:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou notches win over highest-ranked opponent since 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 24 Mizzou Women's Basketball (15-2, 2-2) claimed a 66-54 win over No. 6 Mississippi State (16-2, 3-1) on Thursday evening at Mizzou Arena. The victory marked the highest-ranked opponent defeated by the Tigers since 2006 and the first ever win over the Bulldogs.
"What a great win for our team," head coach Robin Pingeton said. "We beat a great team on our home court and I'm really proud of our girls."
Freshman guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-14 (57 percent) shooting. Cunningham notched 18 second half points to secure her sixth 20-plus point scoring output of the season. Junior forward Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) tallied her fourth double-double of the season and 21st of her career after recording 10 points and 10 rebounds.
For the game, Mizzou shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the floor and converted 11 of 16 free throw attempts. The Tigers held Mississippi State to 28 percent shooting (21-for-76) from the field and 12 percent (2-for-17) from 3-point range.
The Tigers got the home crowd on its feet in the first period, running out to an early 20-9 advantage over the Bulldogs. Hot shooting led to Mizzou's early scoring spurt as it hit eight of nine shots during an early run. Junior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) knocked down three of four shots in the opening period to pace the Tigers' offense.
Mizzou's high energy and efficient shooting carried to the second period as it used a 10-0 run to extend its lead to a game-high 20 points. Mississippi State used a long run of its own to make it an 11-point ballgame after 20 minutes of play. Frericks recorded three points and three rebounds to close out the half for the Tigers.
Strong defense and production down low keyed Mizzou's first half success. The Tigers limited Mississippi State to only 25.6-percent (10-of-39) shooting from the field while it outscored the visitors 18-8 with points in the paint. Mizzou shot well overall in the half as its 52-percent (15-of-29) performance marked the second highest shooting percentage in any half this season.
The third period saw both teams fight back and forth with Mississippi State pulling within seven points. Both teams continued to swap baskets until Sophie Cunningham recorded seven points to close out the period and put Mizzou back on top by 10 points.
Mizzou concluded Thursday evening's triumph with strong team defense and effective free throw shooting. In the second half, the Tigers shot 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the line and limited Mississippi State to under 30-percent shooting from the field once again.
Up next, the Tigers hit the road on Sunday for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff at Arkansas on SEC Network.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouWBB) and like the team on Facebook (Mizzou Women's Basketball) and Instagram (MizzouWBB).
POSTGAME NOTES
- Mizzou's win over No. 6 Mississippi State was the highest ranked opponent defeated by Mizzou since the Tigers beat No. 4 Baylor, 64-61, on Jan. 4, 2006 at Mizzou Arena.
- Thursday's win was Mizzou's first ever against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs now lead the all-time series 4-1.
- The Tigers improve to 9-1 at home this season, 11-0 when allowing 60 or less points and 14-0 when outrebounding its opponent.
- Mizzou shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from the field in the first half, marking the 14th time this season the Tigers have shot better than 50 percent from the field in a half.
- Freshman guard Sophie Cunningham scored in 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, the most points she has scored since finishing with 21 against Texas State on Dec. 21. It was Cunningham's sixth 20-plus point output in her first 17 career games.
- Cunningham's 22 points are the most points she has scored in an SEC game.
- The Tigers connected on 11 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, the fifth time this season Mizzou has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
- Junior forward Jordan Frericks had 10 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double this season and the fifth time she has posted double-digit rebounds this season.
- For her career, Frericks now has 21 career double-doubles.
- Over her last 50 games (2014-15 & 2015-16), Frericks has had 10 or more rebounds in 20 contests.
- Frericks had one block in the game, moving into a tie for 10th in program history with 101 career blocks.
- Thursday's attendance was recorded at 3,461, the sixth straight game that at least 3,300 fans have been in attendance at Mizzou Arena.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton
Opening Statement…
"What a great win for our team tonight. After a couple of really tough games against Tennessee and South Carolina, two top 12 teams in the country. It felt like this week watching game film after South Carolina, it was a great learning tool for us. I think the focus was truly on getting better. We knew we were better than how we had been playing. We were just out of sorts a little bit so we needed to sharpen up on some things. We had to have a little bit more discipline. But tonight, we beat a great team on our home court and I am really proud of our girls. I thought we really battled hard."
On the team's play during the first quarter…
"Honestly, I wasn't surprised. I thought our girls' preparation was outstanding. We really weren't that crisp in our first couple of games. We talked about Tennessee, being ranked going up against another ranked team in front of 8,000 fans. I think our girls really wanted it and didn't focus on the process. And I think Tennessee played one of their best games of the year, to that point. I thought we had a really gutsy win against a good Georgia team. I don't think people really understand how good Georgia is. Then, you go play the number two team in the country. For that, we had moments. I think we cut it to 10 once or twice in the second half. We didn't pass the eye test. But I have a lot of confidence in our players. I think we really embraced film session when we came back with a mindset of, let's watch this and see how we can get better. Not, lets watch this and feel bad about our mistakes. They have been talking the game a lot. They have been watching the game a lot. We felt, with their focus the last couple of days, that we wanted to go out and be the aggressors. I felt very confident that we would do that tonight. Mississippi State, I think, is a tremendous team, extremely athletic. But, I don't think we would have got done what we were able to get done if we had not started the SEC the way we did. The difference in the physicality, the pace of the game, the poise that you have to play with, we didn't have a chance to really see that in the nonconference. So, there is a learning curve. But, we are growing. There is still a lot of work to do, but I think we are making strides."
On the defensive effort…
"I'd say tonight was one of our best defensive efforts. I really thought defensively we knew personnel. We knew what we wanted to get defensively. We knew players' strengths and maybe what we wanted to take away a little bit. It wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Obviously, you give up 23 offensive rebounds, but if you look at the size down low. I thought tonight was one of our better defensive efforts."
On the crowd…
"I get pretty laser-like focused during games. People come up to me after games and say, 'Oh, did you know this, or that,' and I miss some things there. But our fans this year have been so incredible and loud. I really appreciate their support and we want to make them proud. That is something that is really important to all of us."
Freshman guard Sophie Cunningham
On elevating level of play…
"Thanks to my teammates for getting me open. It was me executing and staying focused. Those first two games in the SEC were some tough games, but as a freshman, I have to learn from my mistakes too. It was my teammates getting me the ball when I need it."
On scoring 22 points…
"It feels good but that is not what I am focused on. Anyone on our team could have a big game any night. It was just my night. I am just trying to go out there and put the ball in the hoop for my teammates."
On a faster-paced game…
"I think it goes back to preparation. It was a whole other level this game and we have learned from our past two games. This is how it is going to be from here on out. We are going to get it in to our posts as much as we can because they are dominant down low."
Junior forward Jordan Frericks
On support from fans…
"I think our mentality at the beginning of the game was supreme confidence and that is how we took the court. I think our fans know that and feed off that and it was a great first quarter. Thanks for the support from our fans. They are always awesome to hear."
On preparation for the game…
"The preparation for this game was on another level and that's where we needed to be a few games ago. Now we know where we want to be. Our offense, our spacing and our cutting were harder. Overall, the preparation for our offense is what we have been working on and I think we executed everything we did almost perfectly."
On the physicality of the game…
"I think that is what we expect every SEC game and maybe a little more for Mississippi State. I think our posts did a great job handling it and battled as hard as we could on the boards. They were a little bit difficult to move but we gave it our best and grinded and got what we needed to get done."
On beating a ranked opponent…
"Whatever game is in front of us is the game we are going to focus on no matter who is ranked and who is not. Our next game is Arkansas and that is our next challenge. No matter what, we want to get that win and we are going to do whatever we can to get it. The other stuff is just a bonus."
