COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge and a balanced scoring attack propelled the Missouri Tigers to an 81-70 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Mizzou Arena.

A crowd of 2,976 watched the Tigers improve to 14-9 overall, while the Aggies fell to an even 8-8.

The most critical phase of the contest came immediately after halftime. Leading 35-25 at the break, Missouri erupted for a 24-point third quarter, extending its lead to as many as 22 points. The Tigers’ offense, which had been efficient in building the first-half advantage, became overwhelming. They consistently found high-percentage shots inside, drawing fouls and capitalizing on Aggie turnovers to build a 59-40 lead heading into the final period.

Texas A&M mounted a significant rally in the fourth quarter, nearly doubling its output from any other period with 30 points. Guard Ny’Ceara Pryor, who finished with a team-high 22 points and seven assists, spearheaded the charge. The Aggies used a 14-5 run to cut a 21-point deficit down to 12 with just over four minutes remaining, applying full-court pressure that forced several Missouri mistakes.

However, the Tigers’ early work had built a cushion too substantial to overcome. Each time the Aggies threatened, Missouri answered with a key basket or a trip to the free-throw line to stabilize the lead. The Tigers sealed the game in the final minute by making six consecutive free throws.

Missouri was led by Grace Slaughter, who scored a game-high 24 points. The sophomore from Grain Valley, Missouri, was instrumental in the Tigers’ early establishment of control. She was complemented by a deep roster of contributors: Chloe Sotell added 11 points, Jayla Smith scored 15 off the bench, Abbey Schreacke had 10 points, and Jordana Reisma also chipped in 10 points in just 11 minutes of play.

For Texas A&M, Pryor’s dynamic performance was supported by Janae Kent, who scored 15 points, and Jordan Webster, who added 12 points, all from beyond the three-point arc. The Aggies’ comeback attempt was hampered by their slow start, managing only nine points in the opening quarter and shooting just 34% from the field in the first half.

Missouri’s offensive execution was superior for the majority of the game, as they shot 46% from the field and assisted on 18 of their 29 made baskets. Their defense held Texas A&M to 38% shooting and generated 14 turnovers, which led to 19 points.

The Tigers set the tone from the opening tip, racing to a 21-9 lead after the first quarter. Texas A&M struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Missouri’s active defense, starting the game just 4-of-15 from the field. While the Aggies played the Tigers nearly even in the second quarter, they could not string together enough stops to seriously dent the deficit before halftime.

Missouri’s decisive third-quarter run, which featured inside scores from Reisma and Smith alongside perimeter play from Slaughter and Sotell, effectively decided the contest. The Aggies’ frantic fourth-quarter push provided late drama but never brought them within single digits in the final five minutes.

Texas A&M will look to rebound on the road against Oklahoma on Thursday. Missouri, having won two of its last three conference games, travels to face Mississippi State next Sunday.