Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. (11/11/2026) — The Missouri Tigers women's basketball team delivered a commanding home-opening statement, rolling past the UT Martin Skyhawks 103-59 at Mizzou Arena on Wednesday behind a balanced offensive assault and a three-point barrage that left little doubt from the opening minutes. A crowd of 2,688 watched the Tigers shoot 49% from the field and connect on 19 three-pointers at a 48% clip.
How It Happened
UT Martin briefly threatened early. Lily Espelet's 24-foot three-pointer with 5:36 left in the first quarter gave the Skyhawks a 9-6 lead — their only advantage of the night. McKenzie Mathurin quickly steadied Missouri, hitting back-to-back long-range shots, including a 26-footer, to push the Tigers ahead 19-13. Abbey Schreacke then delivered two consecutive 25-foot triples in the final 90 seconds of the quarter, sending Missouri into the second period up 27-16.
The second quarter erased any remaining drama. Natalya Hodge opened the period with a 25-foot three to push the lead to 30-16, and Missouri proceeded to extend the advantage with relentless perimeter shooting. Schreacke continued her assault from deep, draining back-to-back triples off Nevaeh Caffey assists — first to make it 50-25, then 53-25 — before Caffey herself scored the final points of the half. Missouri entered halftime up 55-25.
The Tigers kept the foot on the accelerator after the break. Caffey scored the game's first two buckets of the third quarter to push the margin to 57-25, then Maddie Penney added a 24-foot three. Mathurin hit another deep three at 6:30 of the third to reach 68-32, and Ellie Muller followed with her own triple as Missouri's lead eclipsed 40. The fourth quarter saw Reka Toman and Averi Kroenke each connect from distance, with Kroenke's 23-footer with 41 seconds remaining completing the century mark and sealing the final margin at 103-59.
Turning Point
Missouri's decisive sequence came when the Tigers strung together a 13-0 run, pushing past the 20-point threshold and removing any competitive uncertainty before halftime. Schreacke's four first-half three-pointers were the backbone of that burst. The Skyhawks, shooting just 33% from the field and committing 22 turnovers, could not answer Missouri's pace or precision. Once the Tigers established a 30-point advantage heading into the third quarter, the question shifted from outcome to margin.
Star of the Game
McKenzie Mathurin stood out in a performance that combined scoring punch with interior dominance. She finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds — the game's only double-double — while her back-to-back three-pointers late in the first quarter helped swing momentum definitively toward Missouri after UT Martin's early challenge.
Three Tigers finished with 17 points apiece, with Abbey Schreacke and Grace Slaughter matching Mathurin's output. Schreacke's four three-pointers in the first half were particularly damaging. Nevaeh Caffey added 16 points and four assists, dictating tempo across all four quarters and feeding Schreacke for two consecutive triples in the game's most decisive stretch.
For UT Martin, Espelet and Sidni Middleton each scored 10 points, with Espelet's early three briefly giving the Skyhawks the lead. Olivia Smith added 9 points and Lazarevic contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds, but the Skyhawks were outrebounded 53-36 and outpaced at every turn.
What It Means
For Missouri, the 44-point margin signals a team with genuine offensive depth. Four players scoring 16 or more points reflects a balance that complicates any defensive game plan, and hitting 19 threes at 48% suggests a perimeter attack capable of punishing opponents through long stretches. The Tigers' rebounding margin — 53 to 36 — adds a physical dimension to their efficiency.
For UT Martin, Wednesday's result was a tough assignment against a Missouri squad playing at a high level on its home floor. The Skyhawks faced challenges converting (33% FG) and protecting the ball (22 turnovers), lessons that will shape preparation moving forward. Espelet, Middleton, Smith, and Lazarevic showed competitive flashes, but the gap in execution was significant throughout.
