University of Missouri
7-1
New Orleans
1-6
@MizzouWBB Beats New Orleans, 81-45, to Record Seventh Consecutive Win
12/2/2017 4:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Tigers forced 20 New Orleans turnovers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball (7-1) dominated New Orleans in an 81-45 victory on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou used lockdown defense to cruise to its biggest win of the season. As a team, the Tigers set season highs in forced turnovers (20), field goal percentage defense (23.2 percent), and blocked shots (9). Junior guard Sophie Cunningham paced the Tigers offensively as she poured in an efficient 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. Mizzou's 36-point win was its largest margin of victory since the Tigers took down Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 85-34, on Nov. 16, 2015.
Turning Point
Mizzou used physicality and defensive pressure from the opening tip to build a 11-2 lead within the game's first five minutes. With 6:54 left in the first, sophomore guard Amber Smith rejected an inside shot on the defensive end and the Tigers' offense followed with a pair buckets that forced a New Orleans timeout. Overall, Mizzou's stifling defense forced seven turnovers in the first frame and held New Orleans to just 11 percent shooting from the field. After one, the Tigers held a 24-6 advantage. Mizzou's 18-point lead was its largest advantage in a single quarter since Dec. 21, 2015, when the Tigers outscored Texas State by 19 points in the fourth quarter.The Tigers continued to dominate on the defensive end for the entirety of the first half. Mizzou forced 12 turnovers through the first two frames which marked the most takeaways in a half this season. The Tigers also held New Orleans to 21 percent shooting in the half which was the lowest total for an opponent this season. At the break the Tigers led 43-19.
Top Tigers
- Redshirt senior forward Jordan Frericks hauled in nine total rebounds. Eight of them came in the first half, her highest total in a half since she tallied nine against Quinnipiac on Nov. 11. Frericks also recorded a season-high three steals.
- Cunningham passed Cindy Kiser on Mizzou's all-time scoring list. She now sits at 27th place all-time with 1,115. Cunningham was perfect from the field in the first half, going 6-for-6. It was her best start from the field in a game this season.
- Sophomore guard Jordan Chavis drained three triples and tallied 11 points. It was her first time in double digits since she went 4-for-6 from deep and scored 12 points against Wright State on Nov. 16. Chavis also set a season-high with a pair of steals.
- Freshman guard Elle Brown recorded her first career points and also drained her first triple. She finished with five points and a pair of assists.
- Sophomore guard Jordan Roundtree finished with a career-high eight points. She also made a career-best two 3-pointers.
Notes
- The Tigers held New Orleans to 23.2 percent shooting from the field which is the lowest percentage Mizzou has allowed since Nebraska shot 16 percent on November 14, 2016.
- Mizzou rejected nine shots against New Orleans, the highest single-game total since the Tigers blocked 10 shots against UT Martin on Nov. 23, 2013. As a freshman against UT Martin, Jordan Frericks tallied seven of the 10 blocked shots.
- Mizzou had its biggest lead at half, 24 points, this season, and the most since it led by 26 points at half vs Ole Miss on Feb. 23, 2017.
- Kayla Michael recorded a season-high in steals with two.
- Kelsey Winfrey registered her first career rebound.
- Freshman guard Nadia Green posted career-highs in rebounds (3) and assists (2). She added three steals and two points in 16 minutes.
- Hannah Schuchts swatted a season-high three blocked shots.
Up Next
Mizzou continues a four-game homestand on Friday, Dec. 8, when the Tigers host in-state foe Saint Louis. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
Fans can purchase tickets at MUTigers.com/buytickets or by contacting the Mizzou Ticket Office via phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
