University of Missouri
22-9
BYU
26-7
@MizzouWBB Earns First NCAA Tournament Victory Since 2001, Defeats BYU 78-69
3/19/2016 11:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tigers shoot 57 percent from the field, highest ever in NCAA Tournament contest
AUSTIN, Texas – Mizzou (22-9) shot 57 percent from the field as the 10th-seeded Tigers defeated seventh-seed BYU (26-7) Saturday evening in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the Tigers with 20 points, five rebounds and three steals while Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) added 19 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Mizzou trailed 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers put together a late 7-0 run to close the gap as BYU got out to a strong start offensively.
In the second quarter, the Tigers took control, outscoring BYU 20-14. Mizzou went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. Frericks scored 10 points in the first half while Juanita Robinson (Chicago, Ill.) added six points on two 3-pointers off the bench.
Cunningham was a perfect 6-for-6 and scored 16 points in the third period as Mizzou outscored the Cougars 25-18 and took an 11-point lead into the final period. Mizzou shot 9-for-12 from the floor and a flawless 6-for-6 from the foul line during the third quarter.
BYU fought back and cut the deficit to two points on two occasions in the fourth quarter but the Tigers withstood the charge and closed out the game by scoring the final nine points from the free throw line.
For the game, Mizzou was 25-for-44 from the field, 5-for-15 from 3-point range and 23-for-28 from the foul line. The Tigers outscored BYU 36-26 in the paint and 21-7 in bench points. Mizzou held a 30-20 rebounding advantage.
Morgan Stock (Town & Country, Mo.) added 14 points, including three 3-pointers. Robinson finished with 11 points and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line in 21 reserve minutes.
The NCAA Tournament win is the first for the program since March 18, 2001, when Mizzou defeated Georgia to advance to the Sweet 16.
Mizzou will face second-seeded Texas on Monday. Tipoff time will be announced soon.
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 is now 6-0 all-time vs. BYU.
- The Tigers improved to 5-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Mizzou is now 2-1 this season on a neutral court.
- Head coach Robin Pingeton earned her first career NCAA Tournament victory as a head coach. She is 1-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament after previously leading Illinois State to two appearances.
- Pingeton is now 101-88 (.534) since taking over prior to the 2010-11 season. She has a 436-245 (.640) career record in 21 overall seasons.
- The 56.8 percent shooting line from the field is the highest in NCAA Tournament history for the Tigers. The previous high was 52.2 percent at LSU on March 18, 1984.
- The 23 made free throws are also the most ever by the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament. Previously, the high was 19 at Georgia on March 18, 2001 and at Texas on March 14, 1986. The 28 attempts are also the most ever in the NCAA Tournament, topping the previous high of 27 on March 18, 2001 at Georgia.
- Sophie Cunningham scored in double figures for the 20th time this season. She went over 20 points for the ninth time. She tied a career-high with three steals for the sixth time.
- Lindsey Cunningham finished with five assists. She has dished out at least five assists in eight games this season.
