Auburn falls at home to hot-shooting Missouri
Janiah McKay and Cabriana Capers scored in double-figures for Auburn, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome a hot-shooting Missouri team in a 69-55 loss Sunday at Auburn Arena.
AUBURN, Ala. – Janiah McKay and Cabriana Capers scored in double-figures for Auburn, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome a hot-shooting Missouri team in a 69-55 loss Sunday at Auburn Arena.
Auburn (18-9, 8-6 SEC) saw a five-game winning streak in SEC play snapped as Missouri (21-6, 8-6) shot 52.3 percent from the field and held Auburn’s top scorers in check throughout the game.
“Definitely not one of our better defensive days,” Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. “We knew we had to defend Missouri at the 3-point line, so to come out here and give them 17 attempts definitely was not good. We wanted to force them into turnovers, which we did. We forced them into 22 turnovers. We wanted to attack the basket and get to the free-throw line. We did everything that we were supposed to do and wanted to do through the game plan, except give them the 3.”
McKay led Auburn with 12 points, half of those coming on a perfect 6-for-6 day at the free-throw line. She also added a team-high four assists. Capers matched her season- and career-high with a 10-point effort off the bench. She also tied freshman Erica Sanders for the team lead in rebounds with six.
After missing the majority of the first half with an injury, Katie Frerking scored seven points in the second half along with two assists and a steal. Khady Dieng also had a seven-point day.
Despite being without Frerking and Tra’Cee Tanner (foul trouble) for most of the first half, Auburn kept the halftime deficit at single-digits, trailing 36-27 after 20 minutes. But Auburn would get no closer as Missouri opened the second half on a 12-3 run.
Auburn shot 31.7 percent for the game and failed to make a 3-pointer for the third time in SEC play. The Tigers were strong at the free-throw line, hitting 17-of-23 attempts (73.9%). Missouri, meanwhile, knocked down 8-of-17 long-range attempts and was 15-of-18 (83.3%) at the free-throw line. Auburn forced Missouri into 22 turnovers – converting those into 22 points – while committing just 11 turnovers of their own.
Freshman Sophie Cunningham led Missouri with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Frericks added 18 points and Morgan Stock had 14.
Tanner and Capers, along with senior manager Ethan Taylor and three scout team players, were honored in pregame ceremonies as part of Senior Day.
Auburn will play its final home game of the 2015-16 season Thursday night as 12th-ranked Texas A&M visits Auburn Arena. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. with SEC Network whip-around coverage.
