Kamiko Williams scored 14 points to lead the Lady Vols (17-5, 8-1 SEC) before leaving with 16:59 left with an ankle injury. Tennessee has lost two of three and had its 12-game winning streak in the SEC snapped.
Williams scored all of her points and grabbed six rebounds in the first half, helping the Lady Vols keep up with Missouri's six 3's. She fell to the floor after clutching her leg three minutes into the second half after attempting to grab a defensive rebound and remained there for a few minutes before being helped off the court. She sat on the bench for the final 10 minutes after a brief visit to the locker room.
Missouri took advantage, outscoring the Lady Vols 41-22 with Williams off the floor.
''I thought she was getting inside their defense, I thought she was getting good looks,'' coach Holly Warlick said. ''Her rebounding brought us energy on the defensive end. When she went out, nobody picked up the slack.''
Williams started for the second consecutive game in place of injured center Isabelle Harrison, who averaged 10.0 points per game before injuring her left knee and undergoing surgery Friday.
The team also lost reserve forward Jasmine Jones late in the game to a knee injury after only having nine available players to start the day. Warlick said after the game there was no update on the status of either Williams or Jones.
''I don't care if we play six people, seven people, five people,'' Taber Spani said. ''It doesn't matter.''
Simmons scored 13 points and Spani added 12 for Tennessee, which beat the Tigers 84-39 on Jan. 10 in Knoxville. Spani said she played in front of about 60 family and friends in her first game back in Missouri since growing up in the Kansas City area.
''I was extremely excited,'' Spani said. ''Obviously, it was the perfect time for MU to come into the league. I had a lot of family and friends come over from Kansas City. It's always fun to play in front of your hometown. I just wish we had put on a better performance.''
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