MU women's basketball team drops sixth straight in loss to Huskers

By JEREMY ANDERS

sports@columbiamissourian.com

The Missouri women’s basketball team built a double-digit lead behind stifling defense and an attacking offense on Sunday, but they let it slip away in the second half and lost their sixth straight game, 73-67, to Nebraska at Mizzou Arena.

The Tigers (8-13, 1-7) led Nebraska (16-6, 5-3) by double digits for much of the second half, but the Huskers rallied late.

With just under four minutes remaining, the Tigers led the Huskers by seven points. But Nebraska freshman guard Kaitlyn Burke drained NU’s first three-pointer of the afternoon to make it a four-point game. After a Tiger offensive foul, sophomore guard Yvonne Turner immediately drained another triple to pull NU within one. On the next possession it was Turner again, this time from inside the arc, to give the Huskers their first lead of the game with 2:30 to play.

Freshman forward Shakara Jones went inside to give MU a brief 65-64 lead, but the Huskers scored the next two times down the floor to take a 68-65 lead with 1:18 to play.

MU turned it over on the next possession and a Nebraska free throw made it a four-point game.

Jessra Johnson gave the Tigers hope when she made a lay-up with 20 seconds to play to cut the lead to two. It wouldn’t be enough, as Nebraska forward Kelsey Griffin was fouled and made two free-throws to ice the game.

Missouri will take the court next when they host No. 11 Oklahoma on Wednesday.