COLUMBIA - The Missouri women's basketball team avoided an upset by Western Illinois in a 71-68 victory in a back-and-forth contest Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena.
It was a sluggish game for the Tigers, who committed almost as many turnovers (23) as made field goals (26). The game featured nine lead changes. Missouri trailed after the first quarter and was down by as much as six points in the second quarter, but the Tigers used a 10-0 run to take a lead at halftime. Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham beat the buzzer with a layup at the end of the third quarter to give the Tigers a 53-52 lead after three quarters.
The score was tied at 68 with 25 seconds left when Cunningham hit two free throws to give Missouri the lead. She hit a third with 15 seconds left. Michelle Farrow's missed buzzer beater at the end of the game preserved the win for the Tigers.
Cunningham led her team with 17 points and added 10 rebounds and five assists.
Redshirt senior guard Lindsey Cunningham had a double-double with 13 points and a team-high 15 rebounds for the Tigers. Freshman guard Jordan Chavis added 11 points and four rebounds and redshirt senior guard Lianna Doty had a team-high seven assists with five rebounds.
Missouri (5-2) hosts Missouri State (2-4) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Tigers beat the Bears 71-55 in Springfield last season.