COLUMBIA - It was far from a stellar performance for the Missouri women's basketball team, but the Tigers pulled away from Washburn in the second half for for a 74-59 win Thursday night at Mizzou Arena to finish their slate of exhibition games.
The Ichabods were persistent and tenacious, particularly on the offensive glass, and in the first half Missouri could not consistently get into the half-court offensive sets it wanted, turning the ball over in transition.
Missouri committed 19 turnovers to Washburn's 18, but Tigers coach Robin Pingeton didn't think that had anything to do with early-season struggles to adapt to a new offense.
"We've been talking about this as a staff," Pingeton said. "In our practices, the majority of them, we've been so much better with ball security. Uncharacteristically, really good, in taking care of the ball. So I'm a little surprised that we've had this many turnovers, certainly (Washburn) didn't even press tonight, that's a little alarming for us. I think a lot of the things we did tonight were really rushed, and we've got to get a better pulse on that. I think we will."
Sophie Cunningham had 22 points, Amber Smith had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and talented freshman Akira Levy added 10 points in a game in which the Tigers were the more efficient team but allowed Washburn to stick around because of fouls, turnovers and a lack of bodies on the offensive glass.
Missouri was out-rebounded 21-16 in the first half. Washburn had nine offensive boards to the Tigers' three, and the Ichabods took a 29-28 lead into halftime. Missouri remedied that in the second half, finishing plus-seven on the boards, but Smith and Cunningham were the team's leading rebounders. Forward Emanuelle Tahane had two rebounds in 25 minutes, and Hannah Schuchts did not play after a sprained ankle in Monday's exhibition.
"Not shooting the ball particularly well lately, I didn't think we've had a great couple days of practice and I think that carries over," Pingeton said. "Proud of the way our girls responded, I thought you saw some possessions that we really got after it defensively and other possessions where we didn't have the same kind of effort."
Whatever the reason for its second-half surge, Missouri was clearly the better team after intermission. Cunningham scored 15 of her 22 points in the second half and Smith scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter. Smith was left open on the perimeter and found space there or slashing to the rim because of second-half double teams on Cunningham in the interior.
Some of that second-half energy shift might have had to do with Levy, who was a human spark plug in the final two quarters. She swiped two steals and often led the charge on fast breaks and had eight points, two assists and two turnovers in 16 second-half minutes.
"It is so much fun to see a freshman come in with that spark, having that confidence," Cunningham said. "Honestly, it makes our lives so much easier out on the court. She draws a lot of attention, she can get to the rim, really good IQ, super good passer. Honestly, it's so much fun to play with her."
Missouri starts the regular season at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Western Illinois.