COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (8-20, 5-10 SEC) dropped its final home game of the season, as the Tigers fell, 95-82, to Auburn on Thursday night at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou freshman Aijha Blackwell (Berkley, Mo.) was superb once again, as she recorded her fifth double-double in the last six games with a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds.
TURNING POINT
After a back-and-forth first half, Auburn took control in the third quarter, as they outscored Mizzou, 34-21. Auburn began its run early, as they scored 21 points in the first four minutes of the quarter to grab a 14-point lead at 60-46 with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter.
TOP TIGERS
· Blackwell played one of her most productive games of the season, as she scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from the three-point line. Blackwell recorded her sixth double-double this season with a team-high 11 rebounds and added a career-high seven assists.
· Playing in her final game at Mizzou Arena, senior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) scored 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field.
· Freshman forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) scored 12 points, her fifth consecutive game in double figures.
NOTES
· Mizzou shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field, the 18th time this season the Tigers have shot 40 percent or better from the field.
· As a team, Mizzou dished out 20 assists, matching a season high.
· Mizzou snagged a season-high 14 steals, as senior Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.) and junior guard Nadia Green (Chicago, Ill.) led the way with four each.
· Blackwell paced the Tigers, tallying a career-high 27 points while setting career-highs with four three-pointers and nine field goals.
· Blackwell recorded her sixth double-double of the season as she snagged 11 rebounds, her sixth time this season grabbing 10 or more boards. It is also her fifth double-double in the last six games.
· Blackwell dished out a career high seven assists, her most since she dished out six against Kansas City (Dec. 8).
· Green produced a career-high four steals in the game, while matching a career-high with 11 points.
· Green shot 5-of-8 from the free throw line, matching a career-high in free throws made.
· Smith joined Mizzou's top-10 list all-time with 123 career three-pointers, matching Julie Helm (123, 1995-00).
· Smith tallied 11 points, her 17th game this season in double figures.
· Frank put up 12 points, recording her fifth consecutive game and her 20th game overall in double-figures this season.
· Chavis drained two three-pointers in the game to bring her career total to 143, which ranks fifth all-time in program history, as she surpassed Carlynn Savant (142, 2003-07).
UP NEXT
Next, Mizzou will close out the regular season on Sunday, as the Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Sunday, March 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:40 p.m.
--- Mizzou Athletics ---