Mizzou WBB cruises to first big win of 2025-26
“As a coach, it’s a lot easier when they’re not close games,” Mizzou coach Kellie Harper said Monday.
Well Tuesday wasn’t close.
So how did Missouri’s 97-75 win against Arkansas State feel for the first-year Tiger mentor?
“It didn’t feel good until the end of the fourth quarter,” Harper said. “They’re pressing and shooting 3s, that gap can narrow real quick. That’s what we do, we coaches. We are never happy and don’t always feel good about it till the very end.”
As Harper looks back at Tuesday’s Tiger win, there will be a lot to feel happy about.
Jordana Reisma bounced back from a lackluster performance against Tulane to put up 22 points and 15 rebounds. Grace Slaughter continued her fantastic start to the season with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Three more Tigers reached double figures in scoring, including a breakout performance from Jayla Smith, who had 15 points, six blocks, four steals, two rebounds and two assists.
“Jayla was a stat-stuffing machine tonight,” Harper said.
Abbey Schreacke added 14 points and three rebounds, while hitting four 3-pointers. And Shannon Dowell reached double figures again with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Tigers out rebounded Arkansas State 46-28, won points in the paint 52-20, won fast break points 20-4 and second-chance points 16-5.
That’s a lot for Harper to be happy about.
“We’re at our best when everybody’s producing,” Harper said. “When everybody is giving something.”
Starting slow
Arkansas State opened the game hot from beyond the arc, hitting three first-quarter 3-pointers to tie and trade the lead repeatedly. The Red Wolves led 13-11 after a Zyion Shannon 3, three of her 26 points, with 3:53 left. After an Arkansas State free throw put the Red Wolves up 14-13 with 2:54 left in the first quarter, though, it was all Tigers.
A Slaughter fastbreak layup and a Smith layup put the Tigers up 17-14 going into the second quarter. Then Mizzou scored the first 13 points of the second quarter to build a 30-14 advantage.
Mizzou never trailed again.
“Talking within the timeouts, and also just having control, taking control of the game,” Smith said of what led to the run. “Being patient and sort of letting it come to us and making our own decisions about what we want to do.”
The Tigers continued to build and took a 42-25 lead into halftime.
Second half
Arkansas State began to hit from deep again in the third quarter, making seven 3-pointers, out of the Red Wolves’ 13 total, in the third quarter alone.
“We had a couple times we were in the wrong defense, or we had people in the wrong position defensively,” Harper said. “So, we need to clean up several of those. Several of those are on us.”
But the Mizzou offense kept up throughout and the Tigers took a 75-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
With the game well in hand, the Tigers just maintained. Arkansas State never got closer than 18 and Mizzou held at least a 21-point lead the final 7:10.
“We held them to 25 in the first half,” Schreacke said. “I would like to see us hold them a little bit more there. Not give them 75. But for us to have 97, that’s really good for our team to see the ball go through the rim.”
Press conference
Up next
Mizzou (3-0) will go to Kansas City for the revival of the Border War in women’s basketball at 6 p.m. Saturday at T-Mobile Center.
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