Feb. 7, 2009
Box Score
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's basketball team shot a season high 52.7 percent from the floor to propel the team to a 74-60 victory over Border Showdown rival Kansas on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. The win improves Mizzou's record to 11-11 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 Conference play while the Jayhawks fall to 13-8 and 2-6.
Junior Jessra Johnson led four players in double figures with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. Senior Alyssa Hollins and sophomore Shakara Jones each added 15 points and junior Marissa Scott tossed in a career high 10 points and three blocks.
The score remained close early on until junior Toy Richbow found sophomore RaeShara Brown for a three-point basket at the 10:36 mark for a 21-13 Mizzou lead. Missouri continued to pull away and a layup from Scott off a pass from redshirt freshman Bekah Mills gave the squad a 30-19 edge.
Two free throw from Jayhawk Sade Morris cut the Tigers' lead to four, 30-26, with 4:05 left but the home team reeled off seven consecutive points to go back up 11, 37-26, with 2:36 on the clock. Missouri's 11-point advantage held up as Hollins drilled a three in the waning seconds of the half for a 40-29 Mizzou halftime lead.
The Tigers started on fire in the second half and built an 18-point advantage, 53-35, when Johnson made a jumper with 13:48 remaining. Kansas got back within 12, 53-41, but Missouri used a 15-4 run, capped by a backdoor layup from Scott off a Johnson feed, to lead by a game high 23 points, 68-45, with 5:29 on the clock.
Mizzou, which led by double figures the entire second half, shot a season high 52.7 percent from the floor, including 56 percent in the second half.
Mizzou is off until Saturday, Feb. 14 when the team travels to Waco, Texas, to face No. 7/8 Baylor at 12:30 p.m. The Tigers then host No. 14/18 Kansas State in Mizzou's WBCA Pink Zone event on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Free t-shirts will be given to the first 500 fans and $2 admission will be given to anyone wearing pink. All proceeds will benefit the Mid-Missouri Susan G. Foundation and the Kay Yow Foundation.
