COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Women's Basketball (16-6, 5-3 SEC) secured a 74-65 victory over Auburn (15-5, 3-4 SEC) after a dominant first quarter performance on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou led by 21 points heading into the second quarter, but LSU was able to cut the Tigers lead down to eight in the fourth quarter. Mizzou responded by knocking down six free throws in the final two minutes to seal the victory.

Senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) scored 30 points, leading the Tigers to victory. Her performance marked the ninth 30+ point game in her career. Mizzou's offense connected on 12 three-pointers in the game, as Cunningham knocked down six herself. Junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.)  and senior forward Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) and led the team in rebounding with eight and seven, respectively, while contributing 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Mizzou started the game on fire, scoring the game's first 18 points while holding Auburn scoreless over the first eight minutes of the game. Cunningham led the 18-0 run with 12 points, as she hit three three-pointers. Junior guards Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.) and Jordan Roundtree (St. Louis, Mo.) also connected one one three-pointer each during the first quarter. The Tiger defense smothered Auburn, holding Auburn to one field goal on 14 attempts while outrebounding Auburn 17-5 in the first frame, as Mizzou took a 23-2 lead into the second quarter.

• Cunningham led the Mizzou offense in scoring with 30 points, connecting on 6-for-12 from the three-point line. In the first half alone, she scored 21 points.
• Smith scored 14 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out a team-high four assists. This marks the 14^th game this year in which Smith scored in double digits. Mizzou is 11-3 in games where Smith scores in double figures this season, and 26-5 in her career when she does so.
• In her first start at home and second of the season, Porter produced her first game in double figures of the season as she scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and recorded a team-high three blocks.

• With the win, Mizzou improves to 7-4 all-time against Auburn and a perfect 4-0 against the Tigers at Mizzou Arena.
• Mizzou held Auburn to just two points in the first quarter. The last time Mizzou held an opponent to that point total in any quarter came against Southeast Missouri State in 2015, when the Tigers allowed just two points in the third quarter (12/2/15).
• Mizzou's 11 made three-pointers in the first half were the most in any half since the Tigers made 13 of them in the second half against Bradley on Dec. 18, 2013.
• Mizzou shot 48.9 percent from the field (22-for-45) in the game, the 10^th time in the last 11 games Mizzou has shot 40 percent or better from the field.
• With her 30 points scored against Auburn, Cunningham has now moved to No. 3 all-time in career scoring in Mizzou Women's Basketball history, passing Mizzou legend Julie Helm (1996-00), who finished her career with 1,925 points. Cunningham now has 1,928 points in her career. The Tiger senior now only trails Joni Davis (2,126 points – 1981-85) and Renee Kelly (2,119 points – 1983-87).
• With her six three-pointers made against Auburn, Cunningham became just the third player in Mizzou history to make at least 200 threes. She now has 200 in her career, and trails only Morgan Eye (367 – 2011-15) and Alyssa Hollins (226 – 2005-09).
• Cunningham registered her ninth career 30-point game against Auburn, going for 30 points, 21 of which came in the first half. Mizzou is now 7-2 in games in which Cunningham has put up 30+ points. The senior has the third most 30-point games in program history, trailing only Renee Kelly (16) and Joni Davis (13).
• With her seven rebounds against Auburn, Porter has tied Lisa Sandbothe for 10^th most rebounds all-time in program history. Porter now has 696 in her career.
• Freshman guard Akira Levy (Baxter, Tenn.) matched her career high with three steals.

Next, Mizzou hits the road to Baton Rouge, La., on Monday, Feb. 4 as the Tigers take on LSU. Tipoff is slated for 6 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).