Frank Moves up Scoring Leaderboard, Women’s Basketball Falls to Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite a balanced effort with four Tigers tallied double figures, University of Missouri Women’s Basketball fell to Texas A&M, 69-67, Thursday evening at Mizzou Arena.

Senior forward Hayley Frank led the Tigers with 26 points and seven rebounds. Frank’s scoring total was enough to move past Julie Helm (1996-00) for fourth on the program’s career scoring list. The veteran surpassed 20 points for a third consecutive game which matches the longest such streak of her career.

Senior guard Mama Dembele added 11 points and seven assists. Dembele’s assist total moved her past Sophie Cunningham (2015-19) for fourth on the program’s leaderboard for the category. In addition, Dembele now stands at 10th on Missouri’s all-time season assist rankings.

Freshman guard Grace Slaughter tallied 13 points and three rebounds, reaching double figures for the sixth consecutive contest.

Sophomore guard Ashton Judd recorded 10 points and tied Frank with a team-high seven boards.

Mizzou (11-9, 2-5 SEC) trailed after a scrappy start to the contest as Texas A&M (15-4, 3-3 SEC) took a 15-6 advantage at the end of the first period. Dembele headlined the Tigers in the opening quarter scoring the first four points.

Entering the halfway mark of the second frame, Slaughter provided a spark to the Tiger offense by knocking down back-to-back baskets including a converted 3-point play. Frank and freshman guard Abbey Schreacke combined for 12 points as Mizzou ended the quarter on a perfect 6-of-6 clip. Despite the hot shooting streak from the Tigers, Texas A&M maintained a 31-25 entering the break.

The battle continued into the second half as it was a contested start to the third quarter. Trailing 40-32, midway through the period, Frank knocked down a 3-pointer to give Missouri momentum. Judd scored six of her total in the frame as the Tigers closed the period with makes on three straight possessions to cut the Aggie advantage to 48-44.

Mizzou kept its foot on the pedal in the fourth as Slaughter hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Tigers a 52-51 lead with just over seven minutes remaining. In the closing minutes of the contest, neither team was able to pull away, as the two squads traded the lead five times. With less than 20 seconds remaining Texas A&M converted four free throws to secure the victory.

UP NEXT

The Tigers are set to host Arkansas on Sunday at Mizzou Arena. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. and will be available on SECN+.