COLUMBIA, Mo. – A combined 24 second-half points from sophomore guard Abbey Schreacke and graduate forward Angelique Ngalakulondi was not enough for University of Missouri women’s basketball to overtake Norfolk State as the Tigers fell 57-54 on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.
A final game-tying 3-point attempt from Schreacke fell short at the buzzer.
Schreacke led the Missouri (1-2, 0-0 SEC) with 15 points, all of which came from behind the arc. The sophomore’s five 3-pointers matched a career-high last accomplished at Florida on Feb. 22, 2024.
Ngalakulondi followed closely behind with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Ngalakulondi’s scoring total is her most in a Tigers’ uniform.
Senior forward Laniah Randle added nine points and 10 rebounds, falling one board shy of a second-consecutive double-double performance.
Both teams traded points throughout the first quarter. Sophomore guard Grace Slaughter added five early points for the Tigers with a basket and a 3-pointer in the first three minutes. Schreacke also added a triple while Randle got one to go in the paint. Despite the Tigers’ opening offense, Norfolk State (3-0, 0-0 MEAC) held a narrow 13-12 lead after one.
Missouri ramped up its defensive pressure and held the Spartans scoreless for the first two and a half minutes of the second frame. On offense, junior guard Ashton Judd sank a 3-pointer and a free throw for the Tigers.
Sophomore center Tionna Herron made her first appearance as a Tiger and scored her first points inside the paint.
Neither team led by more than five points in the first 20 minutes as Norfolk State maintained a 26-23 advantage at the half.
Ngalakulondi gained offensive momentum for the Tigers to open the second half, scoring three consecutive layups. Randle followed with a basket and Judd tallied another from within the paint.
Later in the quarter, Schreacke stole the ball and passed it to Randle, who sank another basket for Missouri. Schreacke ended the quarter with a triple to close the Norfolk State advantage as the Spartans led 42-40.
Ngalakulondi continued her strong offensive game in the fourth quarter as the graduate converted a pair of layups in the opening minutes.
Schreacke willed Missouri back into the lead with three consecutive 3-point makes. With the momentum, Missouri held the Spartans to just three points in the last four minutes, but the visitors were able to reclaim the advantage and hold for the victory following the Tigers’ final attempt.
Missouri outperformed Norfolk State in 3-pointers, converting 47% behind the arc compared to the Spartans’ 35%. The Tigers tallied 21 shots in the paint and added 34 rebounds and 12 assists.
UP NEXT
Missouri hosts Tulane at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
