Jan. 2, 2005

Final Stats

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers scored the final eight points of the game to hold off a determined effort by the Saint Louis Billikens 67-50 on Sunday afternoon in Columbia. The game was the final non-conference tilt of the season for both teams.

The Billikens scored the first four points of the game as Mia Johnson and Ava Smith nailed wing jumpers. The SLU defense forced Missouri to miss its first four shots before LaToya Bond put the Tigers on the board nearly four minutes into the game. The Billikens' defense continued to give MU trouble as the Tigers missed 12 of 13 shots.

Missouri finally scored on two straight possessions to ignite a 9-0 run and built an 11-5 run. Ava Smith to end the SLU scoring drought. Rachel Diener sank a 3-pointer, and McFarland hit two free throws as the Billikens closed to 26-14 five minutes before halftime. The Tigers took a 30-18 lead into the break.

Missouri took its biggest lead at 35-20, but Smith had a 3-pointer bounce in, and Mia Johnson went end-to-end with a layup as the Billikens closed to 44-38 with 8:28 left in the game. The teams picked up the pace offensively and began trading baskets as MU kept its lead at six for the next four minutes. At 54-48, Tiffany Brooks completed a three-point play to push the MU lead up to 57-48 with 4:18 remaining. King scored in the lane to pull the Bills to 59-50, but the Tigers held on by scoring the final eight points of the game.

Mia Johnson led the Billikens with 13 points. Marquita McFarland had nine rebounds, while Krystle Hatton added eight caroms.

The Billikens fall to 1-12, while the Tigers are now 6-5. The Billikens begin Conference USA play on Fri, Jan. 7, with a game at Charlotte. Tip-off is 6 p.m. (CT).