Columbia, Mo. – The University of Missouri women’s basketball team (14-3, 3-1) dropped its third contest of the year against Arkansas (16-3, 3-1), 77-55, Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.
Despite the loss, Missouri’s 3-1 start to SEC is the best start the Tigers have had in conference play since the 2018-19 season.
Graduate student guard Haley Troup (Gadsden, Ala.) was a bright spot in the contest, contributing a career-high 24 points along with four rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
An impressive defensive effort put Missouri up early, as the Tigers held Arkansas to its lowest-scoring first quarter this season to grab a 9-8 lead in the opening period. In the first 10 minutes, the Tigers outrebounded the Razorbacks 17-13 while knocking down 4-of-6 from the charity stripe.
After a slow start to the second quarter allowed Arkansas to build a 12-point lead, Missouri cut the deficit to within single digits by halftime. In the final 3:22 of the half, the Tigers shot 5-of-7 from the field, with Troup and senior guard Lauren Hansen (Long Island, N.Y.) each burying a 3-pointer.
Troup led the Tigers’ offense with 12 first-half points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field with a trio of 3-pointers.
Arkansas utilized strong offensive output in the second and third quarters to claim a 13-point lead heading into the final frame.
Despite the best efforts from the offense, which put up 17 points, the most it scored in a quarter during the game, Arkansas prevailed after pulling away in the fourth quarter.
TURNING POINT
As Missouri struggled to shoot from the field, Arkansas compiled a 13-0 run that spanned the first and second quarters. The Razorbacks held the lead for the remainder of the contest, as the closest the Tigers came to closing the gap was a six-point deficit late in the first half.
TOP TIGERS
- Troup set a career high to lead the Tigers with 24 points while setting her season high with seven made field goals.
- Hansen scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, marking the 13th time this season in which the senior guard has scored in double figures.
GAME NOTES
- Missouri drops to 13-19 in the all-time series against Arkansas, as the Tigers have fallen short in seven-consecutive contests.
- By allowing just eight points in the first quarter, Missouri held Arkansas to its lowest-scoring opening period this season.
- For the second time this season, Troup led the Tigers in scoring.
- Troup’s 24-point performance marks the second time this season and the fourth time in her career in which she has cracked 20 points.
- In shooting 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, Troup set season highs in free throws made and attempted.
- Senior forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) collected a season-high seven rebounds.
- Junior guard Mama Dembele (Manlleu, Spain) tied her season high with three steals, marking the third time she’s reached the milestone this campaign.
- The Tigers didn’t allow the Razorbacks to succeed in transition, as Arkansas scored zero fastbreak points.
- Missouri won the steals battle, as the Tigers netted seven steals compared to the Razorbacks’ five.
UP NEXT
Missouri wraps up the short homestand against No. 7 LSU Thursday at Mizzou Arena. The contest is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip-off and will be broadcast on SEC Network and KTGR.
