The No. 16 Missouri women’s basketball team matched a program record with its 13th consecutive victory Sunday but might have suffered a serious loss.
In the Tigers’ 62-56 win at Alabama, junior guard Sophie Cunningham went down with a right knee injury in the fourth quarter that sidelined her for the rest of the game. The preseason All-SEC selection and All-American candidate was helped off the court and led to the locker room with 8:11 left to play. The team did not release any update on her status after the game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
“I know (trainers) took a look at it and once we get back to Columbia we’ll have our doctors take a better look,” Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton said during her postgame radio interview.
Cunningham, the SEC’s fourth-leading scorer coming into the game at 18.6 points a game, finished with 13 points in 31 minutes. She left the game with the Tigers leading 46-39. Mizzou (13-1, 1-0 SEC) increased its lead to 57-43 without Cunningham on the floor at Coleman Coliseum, but the Crimson Tide (10-4, 0-1) chipped away and got within three points with an 11-0 run. MU’s Jordan Chavis held off Alabama’s rally with five free throws in the final 16 seconds to preserve the win. Chavis scored a career-high 17 points as the Tigers tied a team record for made free throws without a miss, making all 14 of their attempts. Mizzou’s Jordan Frericks added nine points and six rebounds, but the Tide held MU’s Ciearra Porter scoreless on just three shots in 26 minutes.
“I told the girls, ‘Winning is hard. Winning in the SEC is really hard. And to win on the road in the SEC is dang near impossible,’” Pingeton said. “I thought our kids did a good job. ... Alabama really makes it hard defensively to get into a rhythm.”
“For (Chavis), she’s definitely got the ability do that night in, night out, it’s just a matter of consistency,” Pingeton added. “For her to be a sophomore. second time around she understands what this is all about. I think after Christmas you’re either going to show up and elevate your game or you’re going to be in trouble. Our kids understood that and she had some valuable minutes for us tonight.”
Missouri held Alabama to 28.6 percent shooting and just 19 percent (four of 21) from 3-point range. Hannah Cook and Shaquera both scored 11 points for the Tide.
Mizzou plays its SEC home opener Thursday against Louisiana State, then hosts defending national champion South Carolina next Sunday.
“Our focus now is we’ve got to get back and see what’s going on with Sophie,” Pingeton said. “Our kids will respond. We love playing at home. We know what it’s all about. We’ll prepare to the best of our ability and control what we can control.”