COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — Shannon Dowell scored 30 points to lead the Missouri women’s basketball team to a dominant 81-50 victory over Southern Illinois on Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena.

The Tigers improved to 4-1 on the season, while the Salukis fell to 1-2.

Missouri never trailed, establishing control from the opening tip. Dowell, a 5-foot-10 guard from O’Fallon, Illinois, set the tone early, hitting a 3-pointer for the game’s first points just 10 seconds in. She was efficient and aggressive, reaching her 30 points in just 22 minutes of play. Her performance spearheaded a balanced Tigers attack that saw four other players score in double figures.

Jordana Reisma, a 6-3 forward from Brown Deer, Wisconsin, added 12 points, while Jayla Smith and Grace Slaughter each chipped in 10 points. Slaughter also dished out three assists. Chloe Sotell contributed eight points off the bench for Missouri.

Southern Illinois was led by Karris Allen and Kayla Cooper, who each scored 10 points. Cooper, a guard from Plano, Texas, played a team-high 33 minutes. Indya Green added seven points for the Salukis.

The game was decided by Missouri’s consistent offensive execution and defensive pressure across all four quarters. The Tigers opened a 22-18 lead after the first period and extended their advantage to 38-28 by halftime. The Salukis struggled to find any sustained rhythm, managing just eight points in the final quarter as Missouri pulled away for good.

Southern Illinois shot 50 percent from the floor but was hampered by a lack of possession, scoring its 50 points from just 26 offensive trips. The Salukis also committed eight turnovers and managed only two assists as a team.

An announced crowd of 2,553 watched the Tigers secure the non-conference win. Missouri will look to continue its strong start when it hosts Troy on Thursday. Southern Illinois returns home to face Austin Peay on Sunday.