The Missouri Tigers (12-2, 1-0) kicked off Southeastern Convention play on the fitting foot with a 74-71 win in opposition to the Kentucky Wildcats (8-5, 0-1).

Previous to the sport beginning, a evident challenge emerged, because the Tigers could be with out the companies of level guard Mama Dembele, who reportedly had a tricky time getting dwelling from Spain.

The Wildcats began off scorching by way of the palms of Blair Inexperienced, who drained two straight threes within the opening 5 minutes to present Kentucky an early 10-4 lead.

My colleague Lauren Rosenberg expressed of their preview the significance of three issues: prioritizing three level capturing, containing Kentucky’s star guard Robyn Benton, and to restrict their turnovers.

Missouri had a tricky time doing all three of these issues within the first quarter, as they solely tried 4 threes, making none. The Tigers additionally turned over the ball six occasions, and allowed Benton to get inside within the defensive zone.

With about two minutes left within the first quarter, the Tigers discovered themselves down 17-5, clearly overwhelmed by Kentucky’s excessive defensive depth, forcing head coach Robin Pingeton to name a timeout and try to regroup. The timeout did change some issues almost about the Tigers’ play (we’ll get again to that in a minute), however they nonetheless have been in a tricky spot after the top of the primary down 19-10.

Within the second quarter, there was a right away flip of the tide because the Tigers began off the quarter with 5 straight factors, reducing the lead right down to 4. The Wildcats, nevertheless, would simply not let the Tigers claw themselves again into the sport as they responded to each Missouri run with a run of their very own.

An enormous turnaround from the Tigers after the aforementioned Pingeton timeout result in a 22-8 Mizzou run, commandeered by the dynamic duo of Hayley Frank and Lauren Hansen, who mixed for 15 factors within the second quarter.

Rosenberg’s preview talked about the significance of containing Benton, and Benton basically contained herself, choosing up a technical foul after her response to blocking Hansen within the second quarter. Benton largely discovered factors on the free throw line as she had 5 of her seven first half factors come from it.

Within the blink of a watch, the Tigers began raining threes within the second quarter. After going 0-4 within the first quarter, they shot 5-8 from past the arc within the second. Missouri additionally shot 50% from the sector general within the second quarter (up from 29% within the first) and located themselves up 39-30 after outscoring the Wildcats 29-11 within the second body.

Hansen kicked off the third quarter the identical approach she ended the second, choosing up two buckets to open it up. Whereas on the opposite finish, the Wildcats began off extraordinarily scorching from three-point land, capturing 4-7 and reducing the Tiger lead right down to as little as one. Missouri persevered although, as they started the quarter capturing an amazing 8-12 from the sector to keep up their lead regardless of Kentucky’s biggest efforts.

The Wildcats’ Benton continued to be extraordinarily difficult for the Tigers to protect all through the sport and had 15 factors earlier than the top of the third quarter.

Ashton Judd contributed drastically off the bench, including eight factors to the Tigers whole after three quarters because the younger freshman confirmed but once more that she is a crucial a part of this Missouri workforce.

An obvious issue on this sport was the Tigers’ domination of the boards, as they outrebounded Kentucky 31-22 heading into the ultimate quarter. A lot of the rebounds have been unfold out all through the roster, with Hansen and Frank main the workforce with 5 apiece.

Whereas the third quarter was characterised by good capturing, the fourth quarter was all concerning the paint because the Tigers and Wildcats traded dribbles and drives within the paint all through. Ashton Judd had an exquisite take to the basket with a foul with slightly below seven minutes left within the sport to present the Tigers a cushty 63-56 lead.

Missouri’s skill to capitalize on second possibilities was an enormous distinction on this sport as they outscored the Wildcats 17-5 on second probability alternatives.

After main by 10, the Wildcats answered with a 10-0 run to tie the sport up with nearly three minutes left as turnovers once more burnt the Tigers. At that time, Missouri had amassed 24 turnovers to Kentucky’s 13.

An unbelievable shot from Frank gave the Tigers a 68-66 lead with 1:34 left within the sport, because the Tigers have been pressured to depend on their protection to tug this sport out because the Wildcats have been surging.

With Kentucky down 68-67 with lower than 30 seconds left, the Wildcats have been pressured to ship the Tigers to the road and despatched Hansen for some charity photographs. Hansen made her first free throw and missed the second, however nabbed a clutch offensive rebound, placing Missouri in a primary place to take a two-possession lead.

Up 71-67, the Wildcats wanted a 3 to remain within the sport and so they turned to none aside from Robyn Benton, who had amassed 21 factors within the sport already. Extremely, her shot was ill-conceived and relatively heroically blocked by Katlyn Gilbert, and the Tigers reclaimed possession, sealing the sport. Or so we thought.

An odd sequence allowed Kentucky to empty a 3 to make it 73-70, and the Tigers’ unlucky turnover and foul on the following play (with out shedding any day off the clock, thoughts you), took Hansen out of the sport together with her fifth foul. It additionally despatched Benton to the free-throw line with an opportunity to get Kentucky again in it.

After making her first shot, in what can solely be described as a really poor try to get a rebound, Benton by accident air-balled her second free throw. This unhealthy miss gave the actually did seal the sport because the Tigers, this time, as they trotted on to a 74-71 victory in a thriller.

UP NEXT: Missouri takes on the Auburn Tigers on the street on New 12 months’s Day at 3 PM CST.