Missouri women's basketball team struggles at Kansas State

Three games into a tough conference schedule, the Missouri women’s basketball team struggled Wednesday night at Kansas State.

The Wildcats defeated the Tigers 72-46, leaving them 0-3 in Big 12 Conference play and dropping them to 10-4 overall.

Of the 12 Missouri players who saw time on the court, only five were able to put points on the board.

The Tigers, who had been shooting almost 36 percent from behind the 3-point line before the game, made only 7 percent of their 3-pointers against Kansas State. 

“We got some open looks, but we’ve just been struggling from the perimeter,” Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said.

Although Missouri outscored Kansas State by 10 points in the paint, Pingeton said she thought Missouri was soft with post-ups. However, she was pleased with her team’s 84.6 percent free-throw shooting and its ability to limit Kansas State’s second shot opportunities.

Senior forward Christine Flores led the Tigers with 13 points and seven rebounds, while teammate BreAnna Brock, also a senior forward, added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Kansas State (12-3, 3-0) is on a four-game winning streak that includes a 71-69 overtime win Jan. 4 over last year’s national champion Texas A&M.

Pingeton said Kansas State, which led 37-24 at halftime, was more physical and confident, and played like a team that expected success. She was disappointed in how her team responded to Kansas State’s physical play. Five-foot-7 junior guard Mariah White scored 23 points for the Wildcats, including eight assists and a steal.

“We just kind of took it from them,” Pingeton said. “And you’re not going to win games like that.”