Missouri Women's Basketball Falls to Kentucky in Physical Game

After winning two straight SEC games, the Tigers struggled with foul trouble in their 76-71 loss to the Wildcats.

Riding a two game win streak, Missouri came into their game against the Kentucky Wildcats looking to grab their first ever win in Lexington. The Tigers came out winless, falling 76-71 in a physical game.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight today. Watching film on them, you knew they were better than their record,” said Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton.

Missouri got off to a hot start in the first quarter, with Grace Slaughter knocking down an early three followed by a Mama Dembele steal transitioned to an easy layup that put her speed and quickness on display. The Tigers moved the ball around well offensively, in large part thanks to Dembele’s five first quarter assists. At the end of the first quarter, Missouri led 20-16.

A combination of Kentucky defensive adjustments and an absolute cold streak from Missouri led to a major Kentucky run that put the Wildcats up 38-32 at the half. Missouri went over five minutes without scoring a field goal before Abby Fiet finally hit a three to stop the bleeding. Towards the end of the second half, Missouri had hit just one of 11 field goals. On the other end of the court, Kentucky was slicing through Mizzou defenders, especially in the paint.

Missouri is a team that has relied heavily on their three point shooting through the season. The Tigers have shot 36.6 percent from three on the season, but finished the game shooting just 27 percent and going 6-22.

“That's a big thing we hang our hat on, the ability to score from that three point line. We maybe didn’t have the fresh legs that Kentucky has,” said Pingeton.

The third quarter was very evenly matched between the teams, with Missouri slightly outsourcing Kentucky 18-17. Kentucky still led 55-50 at the break, but Missouri had gained some ground.

“I thought we really battled back. There was a point we could have just layed down,” said Pingeton.

It looked like Kentucky was going to pull away in the fourth quarter, jumping out to a 63-52 lead with 7:42 remaining, but Hayley Frank had other ideas. Frank finished with ten fourth quarter points, including an and-one that tied the game at 71 with 1:19 remaining. However, she fouled out with under thirty seconds remaining, and Kentucky knocked down their free throws to seal the win.

Frank once again dominated in the paint, ending the game with 24 points, leaving her just 22 points shy of Julie Helm in fourth place on the Missouri all time scoring list. 

It was a very physical game from both sides, with five total players fouling out. Missouri was hit hard by foul trouble, with three starters, Frank, Ashton Judd, and Hannah Linthacum, and bench player Abbey Feit all fouling out. The Tigers foul trouble sent the Wildcats to the line 24 times, where they came away with 19 points. Kentucky guard Maddie Scherr, who torched Missouri for 19 points, also fouled out.

“We learn, we grow. Win or lose, it’s a marathon not a sprint, we just gotta keep working,” said Pingeton.

With the loss, Missouri falls to 11-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Tigers will travel to College Station on Thursday, January 28, to take on the Texas A&M Aggies at 8 p.m. 

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