Mizzou loses pace with LSU, drops third straight game

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Women's Basketball has suffered the ninth loss of its SEC season.

The Tigers (12-13) fell victim to a 15-1 rally from No. 6 LSU (24-1) in the second half, leading to a 71-60 loss at Mizzou Arena. With Thursday's loss, Mizzou's overall record fell back below the .500-mark for the first time since Nov. 10's defeat to Norfolk State.

After posting a 13-4 scoring run in the first quarter, MU manufactured a lead as large as six points. Ashton Judd ignited that momentum with a successful jump shot to put her team on the scoreboard and the first of her four three-pointers to put Mizzou ahead by two possessions.

LSU regained the lead early in the second quarter but could only assemble a four-point advantage by halftime. MU forced eight turnovers and grabbed seven offensive boards while holding the visitors to just 31 points.

Although Mizzou retook the lead twice to start the second half, courtesy of three-pointers from Judd and Grace Slaughter, LSU outscored head coach Robin Pingeton's group by a 14-point margin to end the third quarter, putting them ahead by double-digits.

MU cut its 12-point deficit down to just two possessions at the 3:26-mark of the fourth quarter, but LSU recorded a 9-2 scoring run late in the game to walk away from Mizzou Arena with its 24th win of the season.

Judd posted a team-best 18 points, closely followed by Slaughter with 17 points. Each of them also shot 50% or better from the field, including a 70% effort from the Grain Valley native. Laniah Randle was the third and final player to reach double figures for Mizzou, tallying 15 points.

MU got out-rebounded by 10 boards, but Angelique Ngalakulondi grabbed double-digit rebounds for the first time this season, ending the evening with 12 of them.

While Mizzou finished with a higher field goal percentage than its opponent, LSU's 47% effort from beyond the arc was a difference-maker. MU only went 6-for-19 from three-point range.

Up next - MU will aim to get back on track with a road game at Texas A&M (10-12). Tipoff on Sunday, Feb. 9 is scheduled for 3 p.m.