The Missouri Tigers (7-3, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) secured their second consecutive win defeating the Missouri State Bears (3-3, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) by a deafening score of 81-63 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo., Wednesday night.
Missouri State seemed to control the game from the get-go after winning the tipoff and jumping on the scoreboard first. Jade Masogayo grabbed possession for the Bears to improve to 8-8 in her career at the half court dot. Paige Rocca drained a shot from the arc to lead 3-0, but it would be Missouri State’s only lead of the night.
Mama Dembele tied the game about a minute later to initiate an impressive game for the veteran guard. After not touching the scoreboard against SEMO, Dembele reached double digit points Wednesday night. Continually creating offense for the Tigers, she showcased her high basketball IQ by constructing a flowing offensive scheme and providing 12 assists. Even though she may not lead the team in points per game, the Tigers’ attack would not look complete without her.
With 12 on the night, Dembele moved into first place in the SEC with 71 assists. On the other end of the court, she nabbed three steals and collected eight rebounds.
However, head coach Robin Pingeton wasn’t too pleased with the team’s complete defensive effort. She noted that the Tigers “have yet to play a full game of stellar defense,” a key point of needed improvement with conference play right around the corner.
While Pingeton talked about the team’s struggles defensively, she let the press room know about a very positive light for the Tigers: sophomore Ashton Judd.
Averaging 16 points a game, Judd recorded 20 against the Bears, who had no answer to her power. Shooting 50% from 3-point land, her clutch shooting separated the Tigers from the Bears going on a 7-0 run by herself towards the end of the first quarter, which Missouri State couldn’t recover from.
After Judd solidified a lead, the second quarter intensified after a couple defensive miscues brought Missouri State within five. Pingeton ultimately called a timeout, and the Tigers showed poise as they recollected and put numbers back up on the board. Missouri did not let the Bears get within reach again.
The “big sister [Judd] never got to have,” Hayley Frank was another double digit scorer for the Tigers, one of four to be specific. Abby Feit was the other.
Frank also prevented Missouri State from making it too close of a game, taking two charges (season count up to 16) and seven defensive boards.
Throughout most of play, Missouri held a commanding lead, reaching a high of 25 in the fourth quarter and going on multiple 7-0 scoring runs, effectively earning them the bragging rights for the in-state rivalry.
Missouri State’s bright spot of the roster was senior guard Paige Rocca. Shooting 3-7 from behind the arc, she finished with 13 points, with both three assists and rebounds.
The Tigers look to continue their win streak Saturday against Kansas State at a neutral site with tipoff at 5 p.m. CST. Conference play begins in early January.