University of Missouri
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Missouri Western
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@MizzouWBB Defeats Missouri Western, 70-48, in Exhibition Play
10/29/2018 10:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cunningham leads the way with 15 points, while Levy scores 12 and records a team-high six assists
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball opened exhibition play on Monday night with a 70-48 victory over Missouri Western. Mizzou opened its lead by executing a 21-3 run to close the first quarter as the Tigers shot 61.1 percent (11-for-18) in the opening frame.
Senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the team with 15 points and was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in the game. Junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) chipped in 12 points, while freshman guard Akira Levy (Baxter, Tenn.) scored 10 points and sophomore forward Emmanuelle Tahane (Bondy, France) scored 11 points. Levy led the team in assists and steals with six and three, respectively. Mizzou's defense held Missouri Western to 32.7 percent from the field (18-for-55) and forced 22 turnovers while blocking seven shots. Smith led the team with three blocks.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou took a hold of the game early, as the Tigers 21-3 run to end the first quarter resulted in a 25-7 leading after the opening period. Levy pushed the pace in her first appearance as a Tiger, scoring four points and dishing out four assists in the quarter, while Tahane led the way in scoring with seven points. Mizzou's defense didn't make things any easier for Missouri Western, forcing the Griffons to commit seven turnovers and holding them to three field goals on 14 attempts.
TOP TIGERS
- Cunningham led the Mizzou in scoring and in rebounding with 15 points and seven boards. Cunningham shot the ball efficiently once again in the game, as she was 4-for-9 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc. The Tiger senior also contributed two assists, two blocks and two steals in the game.
- Levy impressed many in her first game in the Black & Gold, tallying 10 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Levy was able to get the Mizzou offense going early, as four of her six assists occurred in the first quarter. Levy played 22 minutes in the game, second-most on the team as she only trailed Cunningham's 26 minutes of action.
- Smith recorded 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field in the game, and recorded five rebounds and three blocks. Smith's there blocks matched a career-high, which she has reached three times in her career.
NOTES
- Tahane's scored 11 points in the game on 5-for-8 shooting from the field. The Bondy, France, native more than doubled her season-high from 2017-18, which was five points.
- Sophomore guard Elle Brown (Columbia, Mo.) recorded three steals in the game after recording just two a season ago.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will continue with one more exhibition game Thursday before they begin the regular season, as the Tigers face on Washburn at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is slated to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
