Senior Night at Mizzou Arena saw the Mizzou women host the Vanderbilt Commodores. Mizzou seemed to be on the verge of snapping its nine-game losing streak when the Tigers took a one point lead into the fourth quarter. However, Vanderbilt rallied in the fourth, outscored Mizzou 21-13 and left Columbia with a 68-61 victory. 

Mizzou had a tough time bringing in defensive rebounds once again. Vanderbilt was able to pull in 13 offensive rebounds and put up 19 second chance points. In the last two games, Mizzou’s opponents have combined for 29 offensive rebounds and 37 second chance points while the Tigers have only brought in eight offensive rebounds and four second chance points. Getting beat up on the glass like the Tigers have been recently is not a recipe for success in one of the sport’s most physical conferences.

The Tigers battled until the very end of the game. Vanderbilt led for most of the contest, but the game never got out of hand. Vanderbilt was able to get out to an eight point lead with 5:38 to go in the first half. After a back and forth first quarter, this was the first time that it felt like one team was starting to take control of the game. Mizzou would answer the call as Mama Dembele scored twice in 18 seconds to cut the Vanderbilt lead down to four. After a minute of neither team scoring, Abby Feit drained a three to cut the lead down to one. Mizzou and Vanderbilt went back and forth the last three minutes of the second quarter as Vanderbilt took a one point lead into the half at 37-36.

The third quarter saw limited scoring from the two teams. Mizzou and Vanderbilt would combine to score 22 points, while committing 11 turnovers. Mizzou would score the final eight points of the quarter, and were able to take a 48-47 lead into the fourth. The fourth quarter saw Vanderbilt score the first five points of the quarter and take a four point lead. The Tigers would not score until 6:13 left in the game, when Grace Slaughter would cut the Vanderbilt lead to two with a short jumper. Vanderbilt would extend their lead out to eight with 4:02 to play, and the two teams would go back and forth till the end.

After the game, Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton reflected on this season’s team, and had high praise for how her players are handling this tough stretch.

“I’ve seen so much growth, and they just continue to work really hard,” Pingeton said. 

Pingeton and the rest of her Mizzou Tigers will make the trip to Starkville, Mississippi on Sunday to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs to close out their regular season. Vanderbilt closes out its regular season with a record of 21-8 (8-7 SEC), and will take the floor next at the SEC Tournament.