Tashia Brown scored 13 of WKU’s 18 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 30 as the Lady Toppers opened the season with a 79-76 upset of No. 16/16 Missouri on Friday afternoon at the 2017 Hawkeye Challenge inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Tigers took their last lead at 66-65 with 3:35 to play on two free throws by Sophie Cunningham, but Brown quickly responded with a three-pointer. Cunningham tied the game at 70 with a layup with 2:04 to go and Sidnee Bopp answered that with a 3-pointer. Brown scored the last six points for WKU in the final minute, including a contested pull-up jumper with 17.5 seconds to play and two free throws with 1.1 to go.
Dee Givens added 20 points for the Lady Toppers, who outscored Missouri 27-17 in the second quarter to lead 45-35 at the half. It is the third-straight season that WKU has knocked off a Top 25 team.
WKU will now face the winner of other Iowa or Quinnipiac on Saturday afternoon. If Quinnipiac wins, the Lady Toppers will play at 2 p.m., and WKU will take the court at 4:30 p.m. if the Hawkeyes are victorious.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on Twitter, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
– @WKUSports –
Currie P. McFayden
WKU Associate Director of Athletic Communications
