STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (9-10, 5-9 SEC) earned a statement win in the final game of the regular season, dominating Mississippi State (10-8, 5-7 SEC) to the tune of 77-57 win on Sunday afternoon in Starkville, Miss. Mizzou opened the game on a 14-6 run and never looked back, as the Tigers never trailed in the game and led by as many as 27.
Mizzou had four players score in double figures, led by redshirt senior guard Shug Dickson (St. Louis, Mo.) who chipped in 16 points and made four shots from beyond the three-point line. Sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.) led the team in rebounding with 14 rebounds and 12 points for her 12th double-double of the season, while sophomore forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) and redshirt senior forward Shannon Dufficy (Melbourne, Australia) scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Turning Point
The Tigers jumped on the Bulldogs early, scoring 14 of the games first 20 points to gain control from the get-go. Blackwell and Dufficy dominated early, hitting back-to-back treys to open the game. The duo would score seven and five points, respectively in the game’s first six minutes.
Top Tigers
- Dickson paced the Tigers with 16 points and sank a season-best four three-pointers while adding five rebounds and three assists.
- Blackwell posted her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-high 14 rebounds while contributing four assists.
- Frank had 14 points and five rebounds while shooting 5-of-10 from the field.
Notes
- As a team, Mizzou shot 43.8 percent from the field (28-of-64), the 13th time this season the Tigers have shot 40 percent or better.
- The Tigers shot 40.0 percent (12-of-30) from three, the fourth consecutive and ninth time shooting 40 percent or better from deep this season.
- Mizzou dominated the Bulldogs on the board, 46-31 (+15), its best rebounding margin since +16 (40-24) against Arkansas on Feb. 4.
- Dickson led the team in scoring for the third time this season with 16 points, her 11th time scoring in double figures this season the 37th time in her career.
- The senior guard made a season-high four three-pointers in the game, shooting 4-of-5 from deep.
- Dickson’s three assists marked the 14th time this season and the 25th time in her career she’s recorded three dimes.
- With 12 points and 14 rebounds, Blackwell recorded her 12th double-double of the season and the 19th of her career. Her 12 double-doubles are the most since Cierra Porter hit the same mark in 2016-17.
- Blackwell scored in double figures for the 17th time this season and the 41st time in her career.
- Her 14 rebounds mark the 13th time this season she has reached 10 rebounds and the sixth time she’s recorded 14 or more.
- Frank’s 14 points marked the 13th time this season and the 33rd time in her career she’s scored in double figures.
- Her two triples mark the 10th time this season and the 32nd time in her career she’s made multiple three-pointers.
- Dufficy made her third consecutive start and scored 10 points, the fifth time this season and the 53rd time in her career with 10+ points.
- Freshman guard Mama Dembele (Manlleu, Spain) had a career-best six steals in the game, the most steals by a Tiger since Jordan Chavis grabbed six steals against Kansas City on Dec. 8, 2019.
- Sophomore guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.) had a season-best three steals in the game.
Up Next
Mizzou now turns to postseason play, as the Tigers head to Greenville, S.C. for the SEC Tournament. The Tigers will be the 10-seed in this season’s tournament and will open against the No. 7-seed Alabama on Thursday, March 4. Tipoff from Bon Secours Arena is scheduled for 5 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).
