ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - Missouri women’s basketball mounted a furious late-game comeback to survive an opening-night scare, edging Howard 91-88 in overtime Monday night in COMO.
Facing a 17-point deficit with under seven minutes left in regulation, head coach Kellie Harper turned to an all-newcomer lineup of freshmen and transfers who had never practiced together.
The gamble paid off with a 17-point fourth-quarter surge to force overtime.
Transfer McKenzie Mathurin paced the Tigers with 29 points in her debut, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Khloe Ford anchored the interior with a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double, while Nevaeh Caffey added 17 points and scored Mizzou’s first five points of overtime.
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Transfer Tanyuel Welch sealed the win with four clutch free throws in the final 6.7 seconds.
Mizzou hits the road next to face Little Rock on Friday at 7 p.m.
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