Mama Dembele Records Double-Digit Steals for Missouri Women's Basketball Win Over Northern Alabama

Missouri Tigers women's basketball moved to 3-1 on the 2023 season in a 83-72 win over Northern Alabama on Tuesday night.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri women's basketball returned to Mizzou Arena on Tuesday night to defeat Northern Alabama, 83-72. Mizzou was able to maintain a comfortable distance throughout the game, leading by over 10 points at the end of each of the final three quarters.

Heading into the third quarter, Mizzou led 62-51, but the Tigers would drive away early in the fourth, aided by two 3-pointers from freshman guard Abbey Schreacke. The fourth quarter was Mizzou's best of shooting percentage at 61.5.

Through all four quarters, senior guard Mama Dembele was a dangerous force on both sides, grabbing four rebounds and a career-high of 10 steals. 

"I didn't realize I had that many steals," Dembele said. "It wasn't until the end that they told me so I had no idea but I think I always tried to be in the passing lane. I know I have to start the tone on defense and I feel like that's how it starts." 

Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winkler / MizzouCentral

Mama Dembele, Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winkler / MizzouCentral

Sarah Linthacum, Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winkler / MizzouCentral

Mama Dembele, Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winkler / MizzouCentral

Hannah Linthacum, Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winkler / MizzouCentral

Abbey Schreacke, Missouri at Northern Alabama, Nov. 14, 2023 :: Amber Winker / MizzouCentral

Leading the Tigers in scoring was graduate forward Hayley Frank, recording a season-high of 29 points. Pingeton praised Frank's resiliency after the game, mentioning the injuries and illnesses' she's suffered early on this season.

"She's showing up for this team day in and day out in that locker room and on the court court despite not feeling well," Pingeton said. "She's pretty uncommon in everything she does."

Defensively, Pingeton was mostly happy with the team's performance but has constantly voiced her desire for clearer, direct, communication.

"It's not anywhere close to where it needs to be," Pingeton said. "We've got to be a lot more assertive of using our voice, a lot more direct. It can't be 'you got shooter,' it's got to be 'Hayley, you got shooter,' just a lot more direct in the way we communicate ... We've got to hear the command, and then we got to execute it."

Mizzou will have a six-day break before hosting Southern Indiana on Monday at 7 p.m.

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