GREENVILLE, S.C. Mizzou Women’s Basketball (22-9, 10-6 SEC) began the 2019 SEC Tournament with a dominant 87-56 victory over Florida (8-23, 3-13 SEC) on Thursday, as all 12 players who saw action in the game scored. With the win, Mizzou advances to the tomorrow’s SEC Tournament quarterfinals against Kentucky.
Mizzou had four players score in double figures in the game, led by junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.), who scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds while dishing out four assists. Joining Smith in double figures was redshirt junior Hannah Schuchts (Tallahassee, Fla.) with 16 points, senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) with 13 points and redshirt freshman Haley Troup (Gadsden, Ala.) with 10 points.
The 31-point margin of victory for Mizzou was its largest in a conference tournament game since March 8, 1985 when the Tigers defeated Kansas State, 91-58, in the Big Eight Tournament semifinals.
TURNING POINT
After ending the first quarter tied with Florida at 20, Mizzou outscored the Gators, 22-12, in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead in the locker room at halftime. Smith scored 14 of her team-high 18 points in the first half, as she led the way throughout the game for the Tigers. Mizzou’s lead never got under 10 in the second half, as they led by as much as 36 in the fourth quarter.
TOP TIGERS
Smith led Mizzou in scoring for the seventh time this season with 18 points, while also pulling in a team-high nine rebounds. She was also one assist shy of her career high with four.
Schuchts scored 16 points and was 4-for-6 from the three-point line while recording a team-high three blocks.
Cunningham scored in double figures for the 13th consecutive game with 13 points, while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists.
NOTES
Mizzou’s 31-point margin of victory over Florida was its largest in a conference tournament game since March 8, 1985 when the Tigers defeated Kansas State, 91-58, in the Big Eight Tournament semifinals.
With two three-pointers in the game, Cunningham moved to No. 2 all-time at Mizzou for career three-pointers with 227, surpassing Alyssa Hollins (2005-19), who made 226.
With 13 points, Cunningham scored in double figures for the 13th consecutive game, and is now averaging 20.1 points during that stretch.
Troup dished out a season-high six assists in the game, surpassing her previous best of three which she set against Ole Miss (Jan. 3).
Mizzou shot 52.5 percent (31-for-59) from the field in the game, marking the 17th time in the last 19 games Mizzou has shot 40 percent or better from the field.
The Tigers defense held Florida to 56 points in the game, marking the 26th time in 31 games this season Mizzou has held its opponent to 65 points or less.
Mizzou received a season-high 40 points scored from its bench as all 12 players who saw action score.
UP NEXT
With the win, Mizzou advances to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals tomorrow where the Tigers will face Kentucky. The game will begin at approximately at 1:30 p.m. CT, with broadcast coverage on SEC Network.
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