Columbia. Mo. ? Shaquina Mosley is questionable no more.
The Kansas University senior guard’s status was uncertain heading into Thursday’s game at Missouri. But by the time the final horn sounded, Mosley had a game-high 26 points, leading the Jayhawks to a 70-66 victory in the regular-season finale in Mizzou Arena.
Mosley hit 11 of 23 shots, pulled down four rebounds and played 38 minutes. Her last field goal was by far her biggest – with 20.3 seconds left, freshman Kelly Kohn inbounded to Mosley, who drove and made an off-balanced layup to put Kansas up 68-66.
Mosley then made two free throws with 9.9 seconds left to make it a two-possession game and ice the Border War victory. Kansas improved to 10-19 overall, and 4-12 in the Big 12 Conference.
More importantly, Kansas leapfrogged Kansas State and will be seeded 11th in next week’s Big 12 tournament. KU will play Oklahoma State on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
Mosley’s performance Thursday was surprising, considering she was questionable heading into the game after suffering a concussion Saturday against Colorado. Mosley took an elbow to the head from CU’s Aija Putnina and spent the whole week avoiding contact in practice, mainly riding a stationary bike.
She felt good enough to start on Thursday and led the Jayhawks offense, shooting 54 percent from the field. Taylor McIntosh had 17 points and five boards, and Danielle McCray added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Kansas led for much of the second half, but Mizzou came back and forged a tie with around a minute to go. Then, Kohn found McIntosh for an uncontested layup to put the Jayhawks up 66-64.
Missouri’s Alyssa Hollins knocked down an 18-foot shot to tie the game again before Mosley took control.
Tiffany Brooks led the Tigers with 19 points and eight rebounds, while EeTisha Riddle chipped in 16 points and four assists. Missouri fell to 17-12 overall and 5-11 in conference play.
Kansas split the Border War series with the Tigers, with Mosley averaging 24.0 points per game in the two contests. Thursday’s win also was enough to forge a tie in the Big 12 standings with Kansas State, also 4-12 in the league.
Since the two in-state schools split the season series, the tiebreaker is determined by record against Big 12 North teams. KU’s 3-7 mark in the division trumped K-State’s 2-8 mark.
The Jayhawks will play the late game on the first day of the Big 12 Tournament against the Cowgirls, who are seeded sixth with an 8-8 conference record.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday from the Cox Center in downtown Oklahoma City.