Mizzou falls to Texas 73-55 in NCAA Tournament as season comes to a close
Ariel Atkins scored 23 points while Texas outscored Missouri 38-10 in the paint, as Missouri fell to Texas 73-55 in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Tigers end the season with a 22-10 record.
Missouri could not get inside penetration, taking only two shots in the paint. The Longhorns out rebounded Missouri 47 to 33, with Imani Boyette leading the way for Texas with 10 rebounds.
Sophie Cunningham finished with 23 points, her tenth game of 20 points or more this season. Sierra Michaelis had 11 points for Missouri.
Cunningham hit two three-pointers to put Missouri up early one. However, Texas went on a 17-3 run and never looked back. Jordan Frericks had two first quarter fouls, forcing Robin Pingeton to sit her leading rebounder for much of the first half. Texas’ lead bloomed to as many as 15 in the half, as the Longhorns held a 36-21 advantage at halftime.
Mizzou showed life in the second half. The Tigers scored the first five points of the third quarter before Texas was able retake control. MU struggled to get defensive stops, preventing them from making it a single-digit ballgame.
The Tigers now drop to 2-23 all-time against Texas, with both wins coming in Columbia. The Longhorns move on to the Sweet 16 UCLA in the Bridgeport, CT regional.
