Missouri women’s basketball dropped its second game of the season and had its school-record 13-game winning streak snapped, losing 69-65 to LSU Thursday at home.
The Tigers were without junior Sophie Cunningham, Missouri’s leading scorer and a preseason All-SEC selection, because of a knee injury she suffered in Missouri’s win over Alabama on Dec. 31.
Cunningham is considered day-to-day with a right knee sprain. It is uncertain if the Tigers will get Cunningham back for their game against South Carolina this Sunday.
In Cunningham’s absence, sophomore Amber Smith carried the offensive load with a career-high 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Smith added seven rebounds and also shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Redshirt senior Jordan Frericks added a double-double, with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Missouri had trouble sustaining a balanced offense, having to rely heavily on Frericks and Smith, who combined for 46 of Missouri’s 65 points. The rest of the team shot a combined 5 of 27 from the field.
After Missouri got out to a 15-13 lead with 6:12 left in the second quarter, LSU went on a 19-2 run to go up by 15 and ended the half with an 11-point lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Missouri clawed its way back to within two with 2:17 left in the fourth, but a jumper by Raigyne Louis and four late free throws from Chloe Jackson put the game away for LSU.
Turnovers were a problem for Missouri. Missouri gave LSU easy points in transition off of its offensive miscues.
LSU had 18 points off 16 Missouri turnovers and Missouri had four turnovers during LSU’s 19-2 run in the second quarter. Junior Hannah Schuchts was the only Tiger to see the floor who didn’t commit a turnover.
Next, Missouri will play No. 4 South Carolina at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
_Edited by Joe Noser | jnoser@themaneater.com_