Tigers exit Florida with a 1-1 performance

Mizzou WBB (6-3) took home third place in the Emerald Coast Classic with an 85-57 win over Wichita State (2-5).

Mizzou opened the game with a 14-6 lead at the first media timeout, with everyone working inside the arc. In a deviation from the norm, the Tigers didn’t attempt their first three-pointer until the 2-minute mark.

That lead continued to grow, closing at 26-15 at the end of the first quarter. The work on the inside led to more and more rebounding chances, winning the board battle 11-2. The Shockers finished the quarter with NO defensive rebounds, as every Tiger possession ended with either a bucket or a turnover.

Several of those buckets came from Ashton Judd, who finished the quarter as the leading scorer with 9 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting. She finished the game with 22 points, a new high on the season. Judd has struggled to start the season, but this game may be the opening signs of a turning point. However, that increased run flared up her turnover issues, finishing the game with five.

“I felt like we were able to drive the gaps and this team was really collapsing on our drives,” Judd said. “I was able to be in a window and my teammates were able to find me on the kick outs so I got to give a lot of the credit to [my teammates].”

At the half the Tigers led by 13, shooting 58% to Wichita State’s 28%. Grace Slaughter was the only player in double digits for either team, finishing the half with 10 points on 4-6 shooting with no turnovers. The only thing keeping this game close was Wichita State’s ability to get to the stripe and make shots, finishing 16-20 from the FT line.

After Wichita State started the quarter neck-and-neck, Mizzou ended the quarter on a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 23. A large part of this run was built on Angie Ngalakulondi, scoring five of those points including a big-time three-point play. Angie had a productive day on the offensive side with 10 points while making 4-5 free throws.

A 5-0 run to start the 4th put the Tigers ahead by 28 put the final nail in the coffin for Wichita State. Judd took over in the final frame, scoring 11 points in quick succession to push the lead to greater heights.

Outside of Judd, Slaughter and Ngalakulondi, transfers Nyah Wilson and Laniah Randle found themselves in double-digits, with the latter adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. But all of those offensive comparison pail to her work on the defensive end, highlighted by two steals.

“I thought, you know, just her focus defensively was really on point for us,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “Laniah plays so hard, she’s so aggressive, I thought she had some good takes, and also did a good job transfer the advantage as well.”

Mizzou won the turnover battle, committing 14 to 18 from Wichita State. Those points resulted in easy buckets, winning points off turnovers at 21-11.

The Tigers rolled out another new starting five against the Shockers: Averi Kroenke, Wilson, Slaughter, Judd and Randle.

This marked the first time in Ngalakulondi’s time as a Tiger that she’s played a game off the bench. This allowed Mizzou to go small, stretching out the defense and freeing up the paint for frequent driving attempts.

This is the third unique starting lineup in as many games as Pingeton continues to search for a steadfast unit to throw on the court first.

This concluded Mizzou’s trip to Florida, as they return home to match up against Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Mizzou Arena.