Tigers edge out a victory over Northern Illinois
December 15, 2014 | Sports,
By: Ben Brady, KCOU Sports
The Missouri women’s basketball team had an ugly 47-44 victory Sunday over the Northern Illinois Huskies to improve their record to 8-2 on the season. This is the Tigers fourth straight year under coach Robin Pingeton starting with a record of 8-2 or better. Sophomore Jordan Frericks led the Tigers with 13 points and eight rebounds. Frericks has been the MVP for the Tigers so far this season averaging a double-double a game.
While the offense was shut down the Tiger defense was able to pick up the slack holding the Huskies to an abysmal 20 percent shooting from the field in the first half. For a nine-minute stretch in the second half the Huskies were held scoreless, missing 12 consecutive shots. After the Huskies took an 11-8 lead early, it was all Mizzou, as the Tigers would close the first half on a 17-4 run, to take a 22-15 edge.
Coming back onto the court for the second half, junior Juanita Robinson caught fire as she knocked down the Tigers first three field goals of the half. Those three shots would be her only points in the game. While she finished with only six points her energy was enough to energize the Tigers offense coming out of the locker room.
Northern Illinois would make a run late in the second half to knot the game at 42 with just under two minutes left in the game. Bri Porter would knock down two clutch free throws to take a two-point advantage. On the Tigers next possession three-point phenom Morgan Eye would knock down a huge jump shot to extend the lead to four. Then with Missouri up by three, the Huskies were unable to send it to overtime, as the Tigers would hold on for their eighth win of the season.
Missouri would lose the turnover battle totaling 19 to the Huskies 12. But the Tigers were able to win in large part to their rebounding. Mizzou would out-rebound Northern Illinois 45-25 on the day.
The Tigers next game is on the road next Saturday, Dec. 20 when they take on Wake Forest at 1 p.m. After that, Missouri only have two more non-conference games until they start SEC play with Mississippi State at home on Jan. 4.