Columbia, MO–Réjane Vérin and Simone DeCoud each scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in UC Riverside's, 68-62, loss at Missouri Monday night. The Highlanders outscored the Tigers in the second, third and fourth quarters, however it was not enough to overcome a 16-point (27-11) first quarter deficit.
Mizzou opened the game on a 16-0 run, before Vérin ended the scoring drought with a jumper from the wing at the 5:50 mark. Michelle Curry then followed with a three from top of circle to make it 16-5. The Tigers would respond by outscoring UCR, 11-6, to close an opening quarter in which they shot 9-12 from the field, 2-2 from three-point land, and were a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line.
UCR scored the first four points of the second period to cut the deficit to 12 at 27-15. The clubs traded buckets through the remainder of the period, as the half concluded with Missouri still leading by 12, 41-29.
The Highlanders recovered from their ice cold shooting in the opening 10 minutes (4-18) to shoot 8-19 in the second period. Simone DeCoud led the way with 10 first half points, but also had three fouls, and Malou De Kergret connected on a pair of triples in the second period for six points.
They also had six total assists to just a single miscue, compared to the Tigers, who had 10 turnovers and 10 assists. Mizzou got 14 points from Sophie Cunningham and 10 from Cierra Porter in the first two quarters.
Trailing, 66-55, in fourth with 4:38 to play, the Highlanders went on a, 7-0, run in which DeCoud made a three, Vérin sank a baseline jumper, and was capped off by Lauren Holt's reverse layup that made it a four point game, 66-62.
Mizzou's Cierra Porter made a pair of free throws with a 1:14 remaining to ice the game, and bring her point total to a game-high 26 points–16 of them coming in the second half against a foul strapped UCR interior defense.
UC Riverside had chances to make the game even closer down the stretch, but committed a pair of turnovers and missed on their final two shot attempts.
DeCoud picked up her fourth foul at the 5:21 mark of the third period, but managed to pour in 10 points, pull down five boards, and pick up two steals after receiving that foul. Vérin shook off a 2-10 first half shooting performance, and went 6-8 from the field, and 4-4 from the line in the second half.
The Highlanders outscored the Tigers, 18-14 in the second period, 18-15 in the third, and 15-12 in the final frame, 51-41, over the final three quarters.
The blue and gold will travel to Lawrence on Tuesday to face the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday at 5 pm PT in Allen Fieldhouse.
