University of Missouri
(4-215-5 SEC)
South Carolina
(5-113-5 SEC)
No. 25 @MizzouWBB Falls on the Road to No. 19 South Carolina
1/22/2019 12:08:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cunningham paces Mizzou with 24 points, Levy scores 12 off the bench
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 25 Mizzou Women's Basketball (15-5, 4-2 SEC) dropped a road contest to No. 19 South Carolina (13-5, 5-1 SEC), 79-65, Monday evening at Colonial Life Arena. Mizzou fell behind by as many as 14 points in the first quarter, and was unable to close the gap that the Gamecocks created.
Mizzou shot better than 40 percent from the field for the ninth consecutive game, as Mizzou shot 44.0 percent from the field (22-for-49) and 38.1 percent from three (8-for-21). Senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the Tigers in scoring for the 13th time this season as she recorded 24 points, four rebounds and three assists.
TURNING POINT
South Carolina began the game on a 11-3 run and led by 14 at the 2:01 mark of the first quarter after a jumper from Doniyah Cliney made the score 21-7. Mizzou was able to cut the Gamecocks' deficit to seven on three separate occasions in the second quarter, but every time Mizzou would make a run, South Carolina would respond to regain control.
TOP TIGERS
- Cunningham poured in her eighth 20-point game of the season and the 41st of her career as she contributed 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and 4-for-9 shooting from three.
- Freshman guard Akira Levy (Baxter, Tenn.) gave Mizzou a spark off the bench in 17 minutes of action, as she scored 12 points and dished out three assists. Levy was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, both career highs.
- Junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) scored 16 points, grabbed four rebounds and snagged two steals.
NOTES
- Cunningham reached 20 points for the eighth time this season and the 41st time in her career.
- The Tiger senior continued her hot stretch of scoring, as she is averaging 17.2 points per game over her last 12 contests.
- After shooting 44.9 percent from the field (22-for-49), Mizzou has now 40 percent or better from the field in eight straight contests.
- Mizzou connected on eight threes in the game, the 14th time this season the Tigers have made at least seven treys.
- Through six league games, Mizzou continues to lead the SEC in field goal percentage (49.3 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (44.2 percent). Mizzou leads the conference in three-point shooting by more than 10 percent, as the next best shooting team from deep is Mississippi State (34.0 percent).
- Levy set a career-high in free throws made and attempts as she was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
- The Tiger freshman scored 12 points in the contest, her fourth game in double figures in her freshman campaign.
UP NEXT
Mizzou continues its two-game road trip on Thursday, Jan. 24 as the Tigers head to Lexington, Ky., to face the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
