University of Missouri
4-2
Georgia Tech
6-0
Georgia Tech Edges @MizzouWBB, 72-70, in Junkanoo Jam Finale
11/26/2016 12:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sophie Cunningham nearly had a triple-double with 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball fell just short in the Junkanoo Jam Freeport Division Championship as the Tigers fell to Georgia Tech, 72-70, in Saturday's title game in Bimini Islands, Bahamas. Four Tigers scored in double figures and Mizzou shot 46.9 percent from the field, but the Yellow Jackets used a key 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to surge in front and hold on a for a close victory.
Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) narrowly missed posting Mizzou's first triple-double since 1984 as she finished with 17 points, a career-high nine assists and seven rebounds. Cunningham went 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Sophomore forward Cierra Porter reached double figures for the sixth consecutive game to begin the season, scoring 14 points and adding nine rebounds.
Freshman Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.) scored in double figures for the second time in three games. She tallied 12 points, making three 3-pointers. Chavis poured in nine of her 12 points in the final 53 seconds of the game to give Mizzou a chance in the final minute. The freshman was fouled on a three-pointer and made all three free throws. Then, she drilled back-to-back threes on two consecutive possessions to cut Mizzou's deficit to two with 3.2 seconds remaining. After Georgia Tech missed two free throws, Chavis corralled the rebound and heaved a buzzer beater from behind the halfcourt line, but it fell short and Georgia Tech clinched the win.
Mizzou started the game hot behind a flurry of baskets from senior Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.). She made her first three field goal attempts and gave the Tigers a 20-12 lead after 10 minutes of action. Georgia Tech put together a second quarter to run to grab a four-point advantage, but a pair of buckets from redshirt freshman Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Cunningham knotted the score at 31-31 going into halftime.
The second half remained tight as the two squads traded baskets throughout the third quarter. Cunningham's three-point play with two seconds remaining in the frame pushed Mizzou in front 48-44, but Georgia Tech made five of its next six field goals to seize a 58-53 lead and set up the frenetic finish in the final minutes.
Mizzou returns to Columbia next for a pair of home games, beginning with a matchup against Western Illinois on Tuesday at Mizzou Arena. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.
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).
