Mizzou’s Late Surge Falls Short as Tennessee Hands Them Another Heartbreaking Loss
In a familiar, yet frustrating, script, the Missouri Tigers built an early lead only to watch it slip away as the Tennessee Volunteers mounted a comeback, ultimately securing a 76-71 victory. This loss mirrors last week’s defeat at the hands of Texas, with Mizzou unable to close out the game despite a valiant effort.
The Tigers, now 12-12 overall and 1-8 in the SEC, were led by De’Myla Brown’s season-high 18 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Brown’s stellar performance was complemented by her teammates’ selfless play, as they continually found her for easy layups.
However, Mizzou’s struggles at the free-throw line proved costly, as they converted just 15 of 23 attempts (65.2%). In contrast, Tennessee shot 18-24 (75%) from the charity stripe. This disparity was particularly pronounced in the fourth quarter, where Mizzou went 7-13 (53.8%) and Tennessee sank 7-9 (77.8%) free throws.
Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper was unstoppable, scoring 27 points, including 13 in the first quarter, to go along with six steals. The Volunteers’ press defense also gave Mizzou fits, forcing 24 turnovers that translated into 20 Tennessee points.
Despite the loss, Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton remains proud of her team’s resilience and determination. “You’ve got to trust the process,” Pingeton said. “You’ve got to keep showing up…These girls work really hard, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in them.”
The Tigers will face another daunting challenge on Thursday, hosting No. 7 LSU (23-1, 8-1 SEC) at 6:30 p.m.
