Columbia, Mo. – The University of Missouri women’s basketball team fell to Illinois, 76-66, Sunday night at Mizzou Arena. The result sets the Tigers at 11-2 on the season, while the Fighting Illini move to 10-2 in their campaign.
With the defeat, Mizzou’s 17-game home non-conference regular-season winning streak comes to an end, as the loss marks the first of its kind since Dec. 14, 2020 against Missouri State.
Senior forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) and senior guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.) continued to lead the way for the Tigers in scoring. Frank sat atop the box score with 18 points and nailed 3-of-6 shots from beyond the arc, while Hansen aided the effort with 17 points as she hit the double-digit mark for the 10th time this season.
Junior guard Mama Dembele (Manellu, Spain) controlled the Tigers’ offense and dished seven assists which tied her season high.
Junior guard Sara-Rose Smith (Victoria, Australia) impressed off the bench with a career-high 15 points. Smith also contributed six rebounds and four steals
After falling behind 17-6 early in the first quarter the Tigers roared back with a 14-2 run. Smith scored seven points in the charge that was bookended by a 3-point play by freshman Ashton Judd (West Plains, Mo.)
Illinois strung together strong second and third quarters and led 61-48 entering the final frame.
The Tigers fought back in the last 10 minutes and cut the lead to single digits, but the Fighting Illini were able to hold on for the victory.
TURNING POINT
Opening the second half with a seven-point lead, Illinois continued staving off Missouri’s efforts of a comeback. The Fighting Illini put together an 18-9 that spanned the third and fourth quarters and set up the game’s final tally.
TOP TIGERS
- Hayley Frank led the offensive charge with 18 points. It was her 11th outing this season reaching double-digit points.
- Lauren Hansen added 17 points of her own, securing her 10th double-digit finish this season.
- Sara-Rose Smith finished with a career-high 15 points while leading the team with six rebounds.
GAME NOTES
- Illinois takes command of the all-time series 10-6 after Sunday’s meeting.
- Mizzou moves to 55-70 all-time against current Big Ten opponents.
- The Tigers reserves outscored the Fighting Illini bench 23-4
- Missouri totaled 11 steals, marking the fourth time they have recorded 10+ this season
- The loss ends Mizzou’s 17-game home non-conference regular-season winning streak, it is the first such loss since Dec. 14, 2020 against Missouri State.
- Mizzou suffers its first loss of the season when trailing at halftime, having previously overcome such deficits against UT Martin and Arizona State.
- Missouri still sits 23rd in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting an impressive 46.69% from the field on the season.
- Haley Troup played her 129th game for the black-and-gold, just two appearances shy of tying the program record.
UP NEXT
Mizzou finishes its four-game homestead and opens SEC play against Kentucky on Thursday, Dec. 29 at Mizzou Arena. The contest will begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network and KTGR.
For all the latest information on Mizzou Women’s Basketball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
