Columbia News

The University of Missouri women's basketball team was defeated by Mississippi State 75-55 in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Junior guard Ashton Judd led Missouri with 15 points and reached a career milestone by scoring her 1,000th point. She also collected six rebounds and made half of her attempts from three-point range. Senior guard Nyah Wilson added eleven points, two steals, and two rebounds.

Judd started the game with two quick points. Redshirt sophomore guard Averi Kroenke followed with a steal and breakaway layup as both teams played at a fast pace early on. Missouri managed to score 20 points in the first quarter while shooting 50 percent from the field, ending the period ahead 20-18 after a deep three-pointer from Grace Slaughter.

In the second quarter, Judd continued to add to Missouri's lead with free throws and another three-pointer. Junior guard Tilda Sjökvist hit a three-pointer as well, and sophomore forward Hannah Linthacum drew an offensive foul to keep up momentum. Senior point guard De'Myla Brown closed out the half with a pull-up jumper that put Missouri ahead 39-32 at halftime.

Missouri extended its advantage early in the third quarter thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Kroenke and Wilson during a 7-0 run. Sophomore guard Grace Slaughter added two more points following an opponent turnover, giving Missouri its largest lead of the game at 14 points.

Mississippi State answered with its own run late in the third quarter to take control of the game. The Tigers entered the fourth quarter trailing 56-47. Despite shooting 44 percent from the field in the first half, Missouri could not keep pace as Mississippi State pulled away in the final period for victory.

Nine different players scored for Missouri during this contest.

This game marked head coach Robin Pingeton's final appearance leading the program.

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