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Sophie Cunningham, our #3 athlete for the 2010s at Mizzou, the G.O.A.T., the legend, accomplished a lot in her time at Missouri. From our Top 5 article:
Cunningham left the program one of the decorated athletes in school history including the all-time leading scorer, averaging 17.0 points per game over a four year span totaling 2,187 points. She’s 3rd in career points per game, 4th in field goals made, 2nd in 3-point shooting, 1st in Free Throws made, and 4th in assists. Sophie put up elite numbers, was a terrific shooter and floor spacer, but she will forever be known for her tenacity and drive to win, averaging over 5 rebounds a game from the wing position.
Cunningham took an up-and-down Missouri squad on the road against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs had been in the National Championship game in back-to-back years, and boasted elite All-American post Teaira McCowan. Elite team, elite player, on their home court, a team with a 26 game regular season winning streak, and staring them down on the other side, Sophie Cunningham.
From the Post-Game wrap:
Thursday night the Mizzou women took down one of the premier basketball programs in the Mississippi State Bulldogs 75-67, and they did so on a night when star senior Sophie Cunningham eclipsed the 2,000 point barrier. I don’t want to understate how big this win is... Mississippi State has played for the National Championship two years in a row and were 22-1 coming into the game. Their lone loss coming on the road to Oregon. They were 10-0 in conference play and were steamrolling the conference. Only Georgia had played them within 10 points and no other team came within 15 with five of those games coming by more than 20.
Cunningham was awesome. So was Amber Smith.
Missouri has won some big games under Robin Pingeton, but nothing like going on the road and toppling a giant like Mississippi State. And on a night when Sophie went over 2,000 points? Pretty dang cool.