The Mizzou women’s basketball team turned to sophomore Chloe Sotell to lead the Tigers to a 71-67 overtime win over the Kansas City Roos on Sunday, Dec. 28 at Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers attempted to set the tone early with a three-point basket from Abby Schreacke, but the Roos kept on the Tigers’ heels, eventually jumping ahead in the first quarter. KC led by as much as seven in the second quarter before Grace Slaughter closed the gap with a pair of free throws and a layup. Schreacke tied the game with a three-point basket, and Mizzou would briefly get the lead back before the half with one of Sotell’s seven three-point baskets on the afternoon. The back-and-forth battle continued after the half, with Mizzou claiming a seven-point lead in the third quarter, only for the Roos to bounce right back with the final 11 points of the quarter. The Tigers led for much of the fourth quarter, but a pair of turnovers allowed KC to tie the contest at 61, and get a final chance to pull off the upset, only for Emani Bennett’s jumper to miss.
The extra frame saw the Roos strike first, but Sotell sank her seventh three-point basket of the match to put Mizzou ahead. The Roos had another chance to pull ahead, but the Tigers were able to claim the rebound off a missed free-throw with 11 seconds remaining, and add a couple more from the charity stripe for good measure, to close out Mizzou’s non-conference slate with a win.
Sotell wrapped up the game with 23 points, while Slaughter and Schreacke each had 12 points and Jordana Reisma added 11. Reisma hauled in 13 of Mizzou’s 46 rebounds, while Slaughter brought down 11. Tierra Trotter led the Roos with 21 points, with Emani Bennett adding 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Elauni Bennett chipping in 15 points. The Tigers were stronger from three-point range with a 32 percent clip to KC’s 22 percent, and also fared better at the free-throw line by going 13-for-16 as a team.
The Tigers enter SEC play this week with a 12-3 record. The Texas Longhorns will start the New Year as the Tigers’ guest at Mizzou Arena on Thursday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.