TOP 25/SEC WOMEN
NO. 11 MISSOURI 88, ARKANSAS 54
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Sophie Cunningham scored 22 points to lead five Missouri players in double figures and the No. 11 Tigers beat Arkansas 88-54 on Sunday.
Kayla Michael and Lauren Aldridge had 13 points apiece, while Jordan Chavis and Jordan Frericks each scored 12, for Missouri (17-2, 5-1 SEC).
Michael and Aldridge each hit three-pointers as the Tigers took an 8-0 lead fewer than two minutes in. Amber Smith made a three and then a short jumper to cap a 9-0 run that made it 27-11 late in the first quarter.
Kiara Williams made jumpers to close the first and open the second quarters that pulled Arkansas within 10 points, but Aldridge answered with a three-pointer before Cunningham scored six points to make it 37-18 with seven minutes left in the half and Missouri led by at least 15 points the rest of the way.
Williams and Jailyn Mason led Arkansas (11-9, 2-5) with 14 points apiece. Malica Monk added 11 points.
Missouri outscored the Razorbacks 21-2 from the free-throw line and shot 52 percent from the field (27 of 52) and from three-point range (13 of 25).
In other Top 25/SEC women's games Sunday, Kia Nurse scored 24 points and freshman Megan Walker added a career-best 22 to help No. 1 Connecticut (18-0, 7-0 American) rout Temple (9-9, 1-5) 113-57. ... A.J. Alix made a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:04 remaining and Nicole Ekhomu added a free throw with 7.8 seconds left, helping No. 12 Florida State (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) hand No. 2 Louisville (20-1, 6-1) its first loss of the season, 50-49. ... Victoria Vivians had 24 points and nine rebounds as No. 3 Mississippi State (20-0, 6-0 SEC) defeated No. 6 Tennessee (16-3, 4-2) 71-52 to remain unbeaten and match its best start in school history. ... Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young each scored 23 points as No. 5 Notre Dame (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) shot 62 percent in routing Clemson (11-9, 1-6) 90-37. ... A'ja Wilson scored 26 points after missing two games because of an ankle injury, leading No. 10 South Carolina (16-3, 5-2 SEC) over Kentucky (9-11, 1-5) 81-64. ... Paris Kea scored a career-high 36 points, including a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left that sent the game into overtime, and North Carolina (14-6, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) ended a seven-game losing streak against bitter rival Duke (15-5, 4-3), defeating the No. 15 Blue Devils 92-86. ... Kenisha Bell scored 21 points, Carlie Wagner added 15, combining for six free throws in the final 25 seconds, and Minnesota (16-5, 5-3 Big Ten Conference) handed No. 20 Iowa (15-5, 3-4) its third consecutive loss, 77-72. ... Kristine Anigwe scored 20 points, Asha Thomas converted the go-ahead three-point play with 1:29 remaining and No. 21 California (14-5, 5-3 Pac-12) edged USC (13-6, 3-5) 62-59. ... Kianna Ibis scored 24 points, Courtney Ekmark added 16 and No. 22 Arizona State (14-6, 5-3 Pac-12) beat Colorado (11-8, 2-6) 73-59 for its eighth consecutive victory in the series. ... Kate Cain scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, and Jasmine Cincore added 11 points and 7 rebounds to help Nebraska (14-6, 5-2 Big Ten) beat No. 25 Rutgers (17-5, 3-2) 52-42.
Sports on 01/22/2018