University of Missouri
6-1
Kansas State
5-2
Smith Scores 23 as @MizzouWBB Races Past Kansas State, 73-59
11/30/2017 10:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou has now won 48 consecutive regular season nonconference home games
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball (6-1) used a strong first half to secure a 73-59 win over Kansas State in the 2017 Big 12/SEC Challenge on Thursday night at Mizzou Arena. The win is the Tigers' sixth in a row. Mizzou outscored the Wildcats 41-22 in the first half. Sophomore guard Amber Smith and junior forward Cierra Porter led the way for the Tigers. Smith finished with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including a career-best 5-for-8 effort from 3-point range. Porter poured in a season-high 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Mizzou outrebounded the Wildcats 39-28 as four different Tigers corralled at least five rebounds. Redshirt junior Lauren Aldridge added 11 points and five assists, draining a trio of 3-pointers.
Turning Point
Mizzou held Kansas State scoreless for a five-minute span in the first quarter. During that stretch, the Tigers put together a 9-2 run to go up 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. Smith set the tone early, scoring seven consecutive points for Mizzou while going 3-of-3 from the field in the opening quarter.
The Tigers took that momentum into the second quarter, draining four 3-pointers on the first offensive eight possessions of the frame. With 5:39 left in the half, junior guard Sophie Cunningham was fouled on a pick play while sophomore Jordan Chavis took and made a wide open three to put Mizzou up 29-13. The Tigers held the lead for a total of 18:47 for the first half. Mizzou scored 24 points in the second quarter alone. Another 3-pointer by Aldridge in the final minute of the opening half gave Mizzou a 22-point edge and enough cushion to stave off any Kansas State comeback in the second half.
Top Tigers
- Smith was hot in the first half, shooting 5-of-7 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point land. She finished the game with a career-high 23 points behind five treys and added five rebounds.
- Aldridge finished 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and scored 11 points, the most she has scored in a Tiger uniform.
- Porter shot an efficient 8-of-9 from the floor and finished with a season-high 16 points to go along with seven rebounds.
- Redshirt senior Jordan Frericks added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, reaching double figures for the fourth time this season.
Notes
- The victory marked Mizzou's 39th all-time win against Kansas State.
- The win over Kansas State extends Mizzou's winning streak to six games, its longest since winning 13 straight to begin the 2015-16 campaign.
- Mizzou improves to 8-0 when Smith scores in double figures in her career.
- Mizzou has won 48 consecutive regular season nonconference home games.
- Cunningham grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
- Head coach Robin Pingeton improved to 7-5 all-time against Kansas State.
- Mizzou now has 94 wins in program history as a ranked team.
- Mizzou outrebounded its opponent for the sixth time in seven games to begin the season. The Tigers are 5-1 in those six contests.
- The Tigers have a shot a higher field goal percentage than all seven of their opponents thus far in 2017-18.
Up Next
The Tigers return to action at Mizzou Arena on Saturday against the New Orleans Privateers. The game is set to tip at 2 p.m.
Fans can purchase tickets at MUTigers.com/buytickets or by contacting the Mizzou Ticket Office via phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
