KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Four nights after Missouri seemingly couldn't miss from 3-point range, the Tigers followed up their record-setting performance by misfiring from just about everywhere.
Missouri shot 19.7 percent Thursday night in an 84-39 loss to No. 9 Tennessee that showed how vulnerable the Tigers are when they're not connecting from beyond the arc.
"When you don't knock down shots, it makes for a long night," Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said. "That's for sure."
Missouri (12-5, 1-2 SEC) had set an SEC record with 18 3-pointers Sunday in an 82-77 victory over Auburn and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc that day. Missouri headed into Thursday's game leading the nation with 10 3-pointers per game.
But the Tigers couldn't build on the momentum they established against Auburn.
Missouri shot 9 of 36 on 3-pointers and 4 of 30 from two-point range. Missouri's 36 3-point attempts were the most ever by a Tennessee opponent.
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said she made sure to remind her players that Missouri was coming off a record-setting performance from 3-point range.
"When you have a team that shoots the 3-ball the way they do, they're never out of the game," Warlick said. "That was our No. 1 priority, not to let them shoot the 3-ball the way they do."
Missouri had to rely on the 3-pointer again Thursday because Tennessee made sure the Tigers got no opportunities near the basket. Missouri made just one bucket from inside the 3-point arc the entire first half.
"I just felt like we played without poise," Pingeton said. "It just felt like we played panicky at times. Absolutely give Tennessee a lot of credit. They're a great team. They have some great athletes. They're long. They're lanky. They're a great team, and I do feel like we had some open looks. We just played a little bit panicky on offense."
Morgan Eye led Missouri with 18 points while shooting 6 of 17 from 3-point range. Her 17 3-point attempts were the most by any women's player at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Lady Vols' home floor since the 1986-87 season.
Eye had shot 11 of 18 on 3-pointers against Auburn, putting her one shy of the NCAA single-game record for 3-point baskets.
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