COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri women’s basketball fell short against No. 6 LSU, losing 71-60 Thursday night at the Mizzou Arena.
Sophomore guard Grace Slaughter led Missouri (12-13, 1-9 SEC) with 18 points, one rebound, one assist and a career-high two blocks.
Junior guard Ashton Judd reached her fiftieth career double-digit game with 17 points in the contest.
Senior forward Laniah Randle contributed 15 points and three assists.
Graduate forward Angelique Ngalakulondi grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, her most in a Missouri uniform.
Trailing by three, an early bucket from Judd sparked a 7-0 Missouri run in the opening minutes of the first quarter to give Mizzou an early lead. The teams exchanged baskets throughout the frame before a layup by senior guard Nyah Wilson pushed the Missouri advantage to six with just over a minute remaining.
A late bucket by LSU saw Mizzou hold a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the first minute of the second quarter, Ngalakulondi grabbed an offensive board and earned a second-chance bucket. However, LSU inched its way back and took the lead. A euro-step layup from Slaughter knotted the game up at 20-20 just over six minutes before the half.
With LSU leading by six, two conversions at the charity stripe by Judd and a 3-pointer by Slaughter brought Missouri back to within a possession.
The visitors added a late free throw to take a 31-27 at the break.
Missouri battled against LSU’s offense with 10 points off turnovers and six points in the paint in the opening half.
With a tight contest in the opening minutes of the second half, Slaughter knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game to cap a quick 6-3 Missouri run that regained the lead for the Black and Gold.
A late push from LSU saw the visitors lead 51-39 at the end of the quarter.
Missouri battled back in the fourth as Judd connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to just six with just under four minutes remaining.
Despite nine fourth-quarter points from Randle, LSU was able to hold for the victory in the final minutes.
UP NEXT
Missouri travels to face Texas A&M at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
