COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (4-1, 0-0 SEC) shot 61 percent from the floor and 69 percent from behind the 3-point arc to cruise to a 79-43 win over Southern Illinois (3-2, 0-0 MVC) on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Four Tigers reached double figures in scoring, including sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.), tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds for her ninth career double-double.
The Tigers’ 69.2 (9-13) percent shooting from behind the arc was the second-highest percentage in program history, with at least 10 attempts, narrowly behind the 70 (7-10) percent clip against Northern Iowa on Dec. 11, 2002. The contest also marked the second time this season the squad shot at least 60 percent, as they went for 63.2 (36-57) against New Orleans on Dec. 16.
The Tigers were paced by redshirt senior guard Shug Dickson (St. Louis, Mo.) who poured in a season-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor, to go along with four assists. Sophomore guard Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) notched 14 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while redshirt junior forward LaDazhia Williams (Bradenton, Fla.) reached double figures for the fifth time this year with 11 points and a career-best four blocks.
Turning Point
Ahead 26-20 midway through the second period, the Tigers reeled off a 13-2 run to close the half to enter the break with a 39-22 advantage. That run carried over into the second half, as Mizzou outscored Southern Illinois 23-6 in the period to build a 39-point lead heading into the fourth period.
Top Tigers
- Dickson tallied a season-best 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, to go along with four assists. She has now scored in double figures in three consecutive games.
- Blackwell notched the ninth double-double of her Tiger career with 11 points and 10 boards. It also marked her second double-double of the young season, as she also accomplished the feat in the season opener against North Alabama.
- Frank shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the 3-point line to garner 14 points. She is now shooting 77.4 (24-31) percent overall this season.
- With 11 points against the Salukis, Williams reached double figures for the fifth time in five games in 2020-21. She also added a career-high four blocks.
Notes
- Mizzou improved to 9-5 all-time against Southern Illinois with the win.
- The Tigers shot 69.2 (9-13) percent from the 3-point line, the second-best output in school history. Sunday’s percentage trailed only the 70 (7-10) percent shooting from behind the arc against Northern Illinois on Dec. 11, 2002.
- The win upped Mizzou’s winning streak to three games, the program’s longest since it reeled off four-straight from Feb. 28-March 8, 2019.
- Blackwell had her ninth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- Mizzou also were a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, the team’s best outing since it went 13-of-13 against Alabama on March 1, 2020.
- Mizzou shot 61.2 percent from the field, marking the second time this season, the sixth time under head coach Robin Pingeton and the 25th time in program history the Tigers have shot 60 percent or better from the field.
Up Next
Mizzou opens Southeastern Conference play on Thursday, Dec. 31 with a home contest against Alabama at 2 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).
