Turnovers ended up being the difference maker in the Missouri Tigers’ 76-66 loss against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Tigers won the turnover battle with only 17 to the Illini’s 19, but Missouri did not capitalize on those turnovers the same way Illinois was able to. 

“They had 28 points off of our turnovers which, you know, that really hurts us,” coach Robin Pingeton said. “We can’t have empty possessions.”

Empty possessions were a struggle for the Tigers which made only 45.5% of their shots. The team struggled to get baskets in the second half after having a 14-2 scoring run in the first half which placed the Tigers in front at the end of the first quarter. 

The Illini did not share the struggles with knocking down shots, shooting 55.4%, and doing it without one of their leading scorers, Makira Cook. Illinois has shot well all season with several players making more than half the threes they shoot. The Tigers were not able to overcome that offensive onslaught. 

“If the shots not falling, then we still have to value the ball and not have those turnovers and even more have to lock in on the defensive end,” Hayley Frank said. “I feel like that’s where we came up short. We just didn’t have the gritty toughness that we pride ourselves on on the defensive end.”

The Braggin’ Rights game was the Tigers’ last in their non-conference schedule. Pingeton said she wants her team to have time over the holidays to exhale before going into the conference schedule.

“We know what a gauntlet the SEC is, so you come back and it’s for two months where game after game nothing’s easy” she said. “So, I think sometimes it’s good to just get away and kind of recalibrate and dust off a little bit.”

Missouri will be back at Mizzou Arena on Dec. 29 when it opens SEC play against Kentucky.