Women’s Basketball Set for SEC Showdown at Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri women’s basketball team looks to build late-season momentum as it travels to College Station, Texas for Monday’s matchup against Texas A&M. First tip from Reed Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the action will be broadcast on SEC Network and KTGR.

Ahead of Monday’s battle, the Tigers hold a 16-10 standing overall with a 5-8 record against conference competition following Thursday’s victory over Mississippi State, 75-62. In front of a home crowd, Mizzou bounced back from back-to-back losses behind a trio of scorers in double figures.

For a seventh-consecutive outing, senior forward Hayley Frank led Mizzou in scoring with 22 points while grabbing six boards and tying a season-high three steals. In her fourth 20-point game out of her last five, the preseason All-SEC Second-Team selection shot 6-of-11 from the field and made all six free throw attempts.

Senior guard Lauren Hansen was also in peak form Thursday, pitching in 20 points for her sixth contest of at least 20 points. Along with her top-notch scoring, Hansen set career highs with five steals and nine made free throws while playing from tip to buzzer.

Another Tiger performing at the top of their game was freshman guard Ashton Judd, who shattered her career high scoring mark with 17 points off the bench. She also played the most minutes of her career (31) and swiped a pair of steals.

With Frank, Hansen and Judd all cracking 15 points, it became the third time this season Mizzou has had a trio of players reach that benchmark in one game.

Led by Hansen’s career-best steal total, the Tigers snatched 15 steals from the Bulldogs Thursday night, the team’s most this campaign and the most since Dec. 2, 2017, when Mizzou notched the same amount against New Orleans.

Missouri forced 20 Mississippi State turnovers after pressing Arkansas into 21 giveaways on Feb. 12. The feat marks the first time the Tigers have forced 20+ turnovers in consecutive conference games since Jan. 17 and Jan. 20, 2010, against Oklahoma and Kansas, respectively.

The triumph was also supported by perimeter shooting excellence, as Mizzou shot 11-of-20 from beyond the arc for a 55 percent clip, the squad’s best 3-point percentage this year

Going into Monday’s matchup, Mizzou and Texas A&M have a lengthy history dating back to 1997. In the 32 all-time matchups, the Aggies lead 20-12, though the Tigers hold bragging rights stemming from last year’s showdown.

In the Jan. 23, 2022 clash, Mizzou rallied from a halftime deficit, posting 28 third-quarter points to take the lead for good. Four Tigers tallied double figures, led by Frank’s 28 on a career-high seven 3-pointers.

Texas A&M enters Monday with a 6-17 overall record and a 1-12 mark in conference play. The Aggies are in the midst of a five-game losing streak after winning their only conference contest of the year against Georgia on Jan. 22.

Head coach Joni Taylor leads Texas A&M in her first year at the helm following seven seasons in the same role at Georgia. The Bulldogs advanced to four NCAA Tournament appearances during Taylor’s stint in Athens, and she currently possesses a 146-92 career record.

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