FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Missouri Athletics) – Mizzou earned its third consecutive victory and head coach Robin Pingeton secured her 450th career win as the Tigers raced past Arkansas, 60-46, on Monday night in Fayetteville, Ark. Mizzou (14-7, 4-3) clinched its first road victory at Arkansas since Dec 21, 2008 and the second total win over the Razorbacks in Fayetteville in program history.
Mizzou has now won six SEC road games by double digits since joining the league and beaten four SEC opponents by 14 points or more on the road since the 2014-15 campaign. The Tigers’ current three-game win streak is the third streak of three games or more in conference play over the last two seasons.
Senior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) tallied a game-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Mizzou. During the performance, Michaelis became the 34th Tiger in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points. With 1,009 career points, she ranks 33rd on Mizzou’s all-time scoring list.
She has now scored in double digits five times in seven conference games and recorded five 20-point outings this season. Michaelis shot a scorching 10-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc on Monday, matching her career high for total field goals in a game for the third time.
Sophomore Cierra Porter (Columbia, Mo.) contributed 10 points, making all of her field goal attempts (4-of-4), and dished three assists for the second time this season. Fellow sophomore Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) chipped in five points, seven rebounds and five assists in an all-around effort. Freshman Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) added nine points off the bench, including three consecutive buckets to end the first quarter.
Mizzou led for all forty minutes on Monday night and set the tone early, racing ahead 13-2 out of the gate with a balanced attack. Six different Tigers scored in the opening frame as Mizzou held a 21-8 edge after 10 minutes of action. Mizzou has now outscored opponents 119-71 in first quarters during SEC play and limited opponents to single-digit scoring in a quarter 15 times during the 2016-17 campaign.
Michaelis helped Mizzou maintain its lead with hot shooting in the second quarter. She scored seven points in the frame, including a steal and transition score that pushed the Tigers in front by 15. After an Arkansas bucket, Mizzou led 33-20 at halftime.
Mizzou surged in front by as many as 20 points midway through the third quarter. After a layup and another jumper by Michaelis, Mizzou led 45-25 with 15 minutes left in the game. The Tigers sustained their defensive intensity throughout the second half. Arkansas shot just 32.7 percent from the field in the game, the eighth opponent Mizzou has held under 35-percent shooting this season.
The Razorbacks could not cut the deficit below 14 as both times Mizzou responded with a triple from freshman Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.) and Michaelis. Michaelis finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the second half as the Tigers cruised to a big road win.
Mizzou begins a two-game homestand when it hosts Auburn on Thursday night at Mizzou Arena before a rematch with Kentucky on Jan. 30. The contest against Auburn is set to tip at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
