COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (2-1, 0-0 SEC) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating New Orleans, 84-45 on Wednesday evening at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers jumped out to a 17-2 lead and had four score in double figures, led sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell’s (Berkeley, Mo.) 16-point and eight-rebound performance.
Mizzou was highly efficient from the field in the game, as it produced a mark of 63.2 percent (36-of-57) in the game, the 10th-best mark in program history. The Tigers also grabbed 51 rebounds, its best mark since the 2018-19 season-opener (Nov. 6, 2018, 52 at Western Illinois) and dished out 22 assists, the most by a Tiger team since Feb. 22, 2018 (24 vs. Vanderbilt).
TURNING POINT
Mizzou jumped out to a lead early, scoring 17 of the game’s first 19 points to take control of the game from the get-go. Blackwell and redshirt junior forward LaDazhia Williams (Bradenton, Fla.) led the charge early, as they combined for 15 of Mizzou’s first 17 points, scoring nine and six, respectively. Mizzou also recorded a run of 24-0 in the third quarter, and led by as much as 46 in the fourth quarter.
TOP TIGERS
- Blackwell scored 16 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3PT) while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out two assists.
- Williams had 14 points while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field while filling the stat sheet with three rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
- Redshirt senior guard Shug Dickson (St. Louis, Mo.) scored in double figures for the first time this season, chipping in 10 points while producing a team-high six assists.
NOTES
- With the win, Mizzou improves to 3-1 all-time against New Orleans and 3-0 all-time against the Privateers in Columbia.
- Mizzou’s 39-point margin of victory was its largest since a 42-point victory over Southeast Missouri State (74-32) on Dec. 2, 2015.
- The Tigers shot 63.2 percent from the field (36-of-57), the 10th-best mark in program history and their best mark since a 65.9 percent (27-of-41) performance against Ole Miss on Jan. 3, 2019. It was just the 24th time in school history Mizzou has shot 60 percent or better from the field, and the fifth time under head coach Robin Pingeton.
- Mizzou’s 51 team rebounds is its best mark since recording 52 against Western Illinois on Nov. 6, 2018), while its 22 assists is its best since recording 24 against Vanderbilt on Feb. 22, 2018.
- Blackwell scored 16 points to lead the Tigers, marking the first time this season and the 16th time in her career she’s led the team in scoring. It also marked the 27th time in her career she has reached double figures, and the 19th time she has scored at least 15 points.
- The Tiger sophomore also added a team-high eight rebounds, the 30th time in her career she has recorded at least five rebounds.
- Williams continued her scorching-hot start to the season with 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field, her third consecutive game scoring in double figures and her fourth career game in double figures.
- Williams also matched a career-high with two blocks, the fourth time she’s reached that mark.
- Sophomore guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.) played her best game as a Tiger to-date, as she scored 12 points and drained two three-pointers.
- Dickson recorded her 27th career-game in double figures with 10 points, and added a career-high six assists.
- Freshman guard Mama Dembele (Manlleu, Spain) had a team-high six assists, a career-high in her short career so far.
- Freshman forward Sara-Rose Smith (Victoria, Australia) provided a career-high six rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will continue its jam-packed week of basketball on Saturday, as the Tigers host Oral Roberts at 12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network +. It will be the first game of a back-to-back, as Mizzou then faces Southern Illinois on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women’s Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
