Mizzou freshman Ashton Judd makes a move toward the basket during the Tigers’ 62-56 win over Auburn, Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy: Auburn Athletics)

Team1234Total
Missouri (13-2, 2-0)1019191462
Auburn (10-4, 0-2)1315131556

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

AUBURN, AL — After opening the game with a shaky first quarter, the University of Missouri women’s basketball team delivered a strong final three quarters to pull out a tense 62-56 victory over Auburn in a Southeastern Conference game at Neville Arena.

Missouri made just four of 16 shots and even missed a free throw in the first period. But the Tigers then made 14 of their next 26 shots in the second and third periods to give themselves a lead they would never relinquish.

Senior Hayley Frank scored a game-high 23 points, which included four three-pointers, to lead Missouri to the win. Teammate Katlyn Gilbert added 14 points, including four layups — along with a jumper by Frank and a pair of free throws by Ashton Judd — in the third quarter that helped Mizzou grab its biggest lead at 46-36.

Auburn managed to get as close as three points midway through the fourth quarter, but Mizzou responded with a lane jumper by freshman Averi Kroenke, and back-to-back three-pointers by Frank and Judd to push its lead back to 10 with one minute to go.

That edge proved to be more than enough for a Mizzou win, as Auburn could only manage one basket and two free throws in the final 60 seconds.

The victory, which was Missouri’s second in a row and seventh in its last eight games, lifted the Tigers’ overall record to 13-2. Mizzou is also 2-0 in SEC play, while Auburn fell to 10-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

The Tigers will look to keep the win streak going when they travel to Tuscaloosa on Thursday, January 5, to play Alabama. That game will tip-off at 6 p.m., and will be streamed live on SEC+.

Mizzou’s next home game will come next Sunday, January 8, when the Tigers will host Arkansas in a 2 p.m. game at Mizzou Arena.

Missouri 62

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
43Hayley Frank*388-144-93-50-663011023
10Katlyn Gilbert*316-100-02-31-451140414
13Haley Troup*363-82-50-00-22211008
01Lauren Hansen*220-60-50-00-33322020
32Jayla Kelly*100-10-00-00-11101000
24Ashton Judd193-61-12-22-24302019
02Sara-Rose Smith161-30-02-42-46301004
04Mama Dembele141-30-10-00-00431012
21Averi Kroenke101-20-00-00-11120002
20Sarah Linthacum40-00-00-00-00101000
TMTEAM00-00-00-02-35002000
Totals20023-537-219-147-2633229161862

Auburn 56

##PlayerGSMINFG3PTFTORB-DRBREBPFATOBLKSTLPTS
05Coulibaly,Aicha*327-150-36-81-672120020
03Johnson,Jakayla*332-31-24-42-46441009
11Levy,Romi*193-40-00-00-22315106
33Richardson,Kharyssa*140-40-02-20-33200102
10Shaw,Sydney*260-60-20-00-33021000
02Wells,Sania273-81-51-10-11202018
01Pratcher,Mya200-40-05-61-23112015
04Duhon,Kaitlyn111-20-00-00-11002012
12Bostic,Mar’shaun91-30-00-00-00200022
51Johnson,Precious91-10-00-00-00000002
TMTEAM00-00-00-00-22000000
Totals20018-502-1218-214-2428169152556
2022 Missouri Tigers Upcoming Women’s Basketball Schedule
Thu., January 5 — at Alabama* — 6:30 pm
Sun., January 8 — vs. #24 Arkansas* — 2 pm
Thu., January 12 — vs. #9 LSU* — 6 pm
Sun., January 15 — at #1 South Carolina* — 12 pm
Sun., January 22 — vs. Tennessee* — 2 pm
Thu., January 26 — at Georgia* — 6 pm
Sun., January 29 — at Kentucky* — 2 pm
* – Denotes Southeastern Conference game
All Mizzou home games will be played at Mizzou Arena.