COLUMBIA, Mo. – The bitter start to the Kellie Harper era finally took a sweet twist, as the Tigers defeated Central Arkansas 78-71 in their regular season opener Monday night at Mizzou Arena.
After the pregame announcement that redshirt junior Averi Kroenke suffered a season-ending injury in practice, the depth of an already thin roster was put to the test.
Early on, the Tigers’ starters did not seem up to the challenge, as ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Bree Stephens was all over Mizzou junior Grace Slaughter, holding her to just two first-half points along with five turnovers.
But it was the very depth the Tigers were forced to dip into that kept them in the ballgame. Mizzou’s bench put up a crucial 19 points in the first half, already more than the unit’s total output, 15, in its overtime, exhibition loss to Division II Maryville.
Despite the short rotation, the Tigers’ physical play was the difference maker, bringing them to the line 45 times compared to the Sugar Bears’ 12.
But the physicality seemed lackluster on the defensive end for the Tigers, with UCA getting open looks at the rim at will throughout the ballgame.
While other starters sputtered, Shannon Dowell was a rock for the Tigers. Even during shooting struggles, she consistently put her head down and attacked the basket, getting to the charity stripe a program record 23 times. She was the go-to option to keep the stagnant Mizzou offense afloat, also chipping in 12 rebounds, despite her short stature.
As Central Arkansas went ice cold midway through the third quarter, going over four minutes without a field goal made, the Tigers finally found their shot.
Grace Slaughter found nylon from downtown, followed by sophomore Chloe Sotell on the next possession.
But UCA sophomore Jenna Cook splashed in a three-ball of her own late in the third, cutting the Mizzou advantage to just four, shifting momentum back to the Sugar Bears before the final quarter.
Junior Cheyanne Kemp continued a big 12-point performance with a three to bring Central Arkansas within one, but, as seemed to be the story all night for the Sugar Bears, picked up a costly fourth foul on the following possession.
As UCA became disorganized in Kemp’s absence, the Tigers immediately took advantage. A big putback from Cleveland State transfer Jordana Reisma came as part of an 8-0 run in response, putting the Tigers up 67-58 with 5:26 to play.
But Central Arkansas didn’t go away easily, as a quick 7-1 spurt put the game back to one possession with four minutes to play. Senior starter Julianna Gibson had a wide-open look at a potential game-tying three, but clanked it off the rim.
Mizzou’s Grace Slaughter attacked the glass on the ensuing possession, reclaiming the momentum for a moment, pushing the advantage back up to five with three and a half minutes to go.
In a game with a staggering free-throw advantage, turnovers continued to keep the Tigers from pulling away in an otherwise near-identical offensive output.
Shae Littleford emerged as the offensive catalyst for the Sugar Bears late, converting an and-one and rimming home a critical free throw to tie the game at 71 with just over a minute to play. The graduate student would score five of her 17 points in the game’s final frame.
But Central Arkansas couldn’t seem to get over the hump, missing multiple potential go-ahead looks.
Jordana Reisma and redshirt senior Jayla Smith got two tough looks to fall in crunch time, bringing the Tiger lead back up to four. Mizzou closed the game on a 7–0 run, while not surrendering a field goal in the game’s final 2:34.
Mizzou will travel to New Orleans to take on Tulane on Thursday, while Central Arkansas heads home for the first time in 2025-26 for its matchup against Lyon.
