University of Missouri
3-10,0-0SEC
Illinois
9-2, 0-0Big Ten
Mizzou Women’s Basketball Drops Nonconference Finale to Illinois
12/20/2019 3:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Blackwell matches career high with 21 points
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball (3-10, 0-0 SEC) was defeated by Illinois (9-2, 0-0 Big Ten), 58-51, in a Braggin' Rights contest on Friday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. The loss marks the end of non-conference play for the Tigers. Freshman guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.) led Mizzou as she matched a career-best with 21 points, shooting 7-of-15 from the field.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou and Illinois battled throughout the game with the Illini leading for most of the game. To begin the game, Illinois stormed to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter. However, Mizzou had a run of its own, cutting the lead to one in the first. At halftime, the Illini held a five-point advantage. The second half was again defined by scoring runs. Illinois jumped out to an early lead, but Mizzou tied the game at 38 as senior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) and Blackwell combined for nine straight points. Illinois then scored nine straight points, giving them the lead as the game entered its final frame. The lead proved too much for the Tigers to overcome.
TOP TIGERS
- Blackwell paced the Tigers with 21 points, matching a season high. She also grabbed eight rebounds in the contest.
- Redshirt senior forward Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) tallied six points while also blocking two shots and recording eight rebounds.
NOTES
- With a team-high 21 points, Blackwell matched a career-high that she previously set against Nebraska (Nov. 10, 2019). It was the second 20-point game of Blackwell's career, and the seventh time she has scored in double figures.
- Blackwell has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, a stretch where she is averaging 14.3 points per game.
- The Tiger freshman also matched career-bests in field goals made (seven) and three-pointers made (two).
- Blackwell pulled in eight rebounds in the game, the ninth straight game she has recorded five or more rebounds.
- With two blocks, Schuchts has now recorded multiple blocks in five straight games, extending the longest streak of her career with multiple blocks.
- Schuchts grabbed eight rebounds in the game, marking the eighth time this season and the 24th time in her career she has had at least five rebounds.
- Freshman forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) grabbed five rebounds, marking the fifth time this season she has had at least five rebounds.
UP NEXT
Next, Mizzou will open SEC play in the road, as the Tigers head to No. 23 Tennessee on Thursday, Jan. 2. The game is set to tipoff at 4:00 p.m. CT, with SEC Network providing "whiparound" coverage. The game will be shown in its entirety 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).
