Mizzou loses 14-point lead, falls to Georgia on buzzer-beater

ATHENS, Ga. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Women's Basketball is still searching for its first win of SEC play, following a heartbreaking loss at Stegeman Coliseum.

Georgia's Trinity Turner hit a three-pointer as time expired to complete a 14-point, fourth quarter comeback, handing the Tigers their third loss of conference action this season with a 74-72 defeat.

MU has now lost its last 15 games against SEC opponents, dating back to last season. The program's last win over a conference foe was Jan. 18, 2023 against Georgia at Mizzou Arena.

Both teams traded buckets throughout the first quarter and posted 48 combined points in the first 10 minutes of the game. However, Georgia strung together a 7-0 scoring run to gain a 27-21 advantage with 30 minutes left in the contest.

The Tigers responded by holding the Bulldogs to just six points in the second quarter and taking control of the game with a 14-point surge before the break. Laniah Randle and Ashton Judd fueled that 14-0 rally by combining to score nine of those points.

Mizzou maintained the lead throughout the final 19:59 of the second half, building an advantage as high as 14 points to begin the fourth quarter. However, the Bulldogs used an 18-6 scoring run to cut its deficit down to one-possession with less than four minutes remaining.

Grace Slaughter drained a pair of free throws with only 17 seconds left on the clock to take a 72-68 lead, but Mizzou allowed a three-pointer to De'mauri Flournoy on Georgia's next trip down the floor to make it a one-score game again. Then, Turner sealed the win for the Bulldogs with a buzzer-beating triple after regaining possession on a jump ball. Overall, UGA outscored MU 28-15 in the final 10 minutes of play.

Two different Tigers posted double-doubles in this contest. Angelique Ngalakulondi tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds while Randle scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards.

Judd also tied her season-high in scoring with a team-best 22-point effort, shooting 50% from the floor and hitting four three-pointers.

Up next - Mizzou returns home to host Florida on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.