COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball (1-0, 0-0 SEC) used a dominant performance in the second half to cruise to a 96-78 season-opening victory over North Alabama (0-2, 0-0 ASUN) on Friday evening at Mizzou Arena. Three Tigers scored in double figures, led by double-double performances from sophomore forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) and sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.).
The sophomore duo picked up right where they left off a season ago, as Frank led the team in scoring with 24 points and had 11 rebounds, recording her first career double-double. Blackwell chipped in 21 points and had 10 rebounds to record her eighth career double-double. Redshirt junior LaDazhia Williams (Bradenton, Fla.) also impressed in her Tiger debut, as she scored 18 points and had five rebounds.
TURNING POINT
Mizzou struggled in the first half, but found their tune in the second half, outscoring the Lions 60-39 in the game's final 20 minutes to seal the victory. The second half started with a 15-1 run for the Tigers, as their onslaught erased a three-point first half deficit and gave the Mizzou control of the contest. Williams led the charge with six points during the run, while a three-pointer from Frank pushed Mizzou's lead to 51-40 with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
TOP TIGERS
- Frank scored 24 points to lead the Tigers and added a career-high 11 rebounds. She also shot highly efficient from the field, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, 3-of-5 from three and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
- Blackwell had 21 points and 10 rebounds and was successful on 6-of-8 attempts from the free throw line.
- Williams set a new career-high in her Mizzou debut, scoring 18 points while grabbing five rebounds.
NOTES
- Friday's game was the first-ever contest between the two schools, as Mizzou improves to 1-0 all-time against North Alabama.
- With the win, Mizzou improves to 38-9 all-time in season-openers and 39-8 all-time in home-openers.
- Mizzou's 96 points are the most the Tigers have scored since last season's 97-89 season-opening overtime win over Western Illinois on Nov. 5, 2019. It is the most points Mizzou has scored in a non-overtime game since scoring 100 against Ole Miss on Feb. 23, 2017.
- Frank's 24-point, 11-rebound performance was her first career double-double and set a new career-high for rebounds. It was also the eighth time in her career she has led Mizzou in scoring and was her fourth career 20-point game.
- Blackwell had her eighth career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the ninth time in her career she has reached 20-points.
- The sophomore duo's performance marked the first time since Nov. 10, 2019 Mizzou had two players record a double-double in the same game. In that contest against Nebraska, Amber Smith (20 pts. / 14 rebs.), Jordan Roundtree (16 pts. / 10 rebs.) and Hannah Schuchts (13 pts. / 10 rebs.) notched double-doubles.
- Williams set a new career-high with 18 points, surpassing her previous high of 11 she set against Western Carolina on Nov. 30, 2017. Williams also set career highs in minutes (21), field goals made (eight) and free throws made (two).
- With five points in the game, senior forward Shannon Dufficy (Melbourne, Australia) recorded her 1,000th career point. She had entered the season with 995 points in three seasons at Utah State.
- Redshirt junior guard Haley Troup (Gadsden, Ala.) had five assists in the game, marking just the fourth time in her career she hit that mark.
- Every player on Mizzou's roster played in the game, including eight who made their debut in the Black & Gold. In addition to Williams and Dufficy, freshman guard Mama Dembele (Manlleu, Spain), sophomore guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.), freshman guard Sara-Rose Smith (Victoria, Australia), redshirt senior guard Shug Dickson (St. Louis, Mo.), redshirt freshman forward Micah Linthacum (Jefferson City, Mo.) and freshman center Jayla Kelly (Chesterfield, Mo.) all made their debuts. Williams and Dembele started the game.
- Dembele (eight points) and Linthacum (two points) recorded their first career collegiate points in the game.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will hit the road for the first time in its next contest, as the Tigers play Saint Louis on Sunday, Nov. 29. Tipoff from Chaifetz Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN +.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
