Missouri women come up short at LSU 66-58

BATON ROUGE, La. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (6-18, 3-8 SEC) fell on the road to LSU (17-5, 7-3 SEC), 66-58, on Monday evening at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mizzou held a four-point lead at halftime, but was handcuffed by a 20-point second half.

Freshman Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.) recorded her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It marked the eighth straight game Blackwell has scored in double figures.

TURNING POINT

LSU turned up its defense in the second half, as Mizzou’s four-point halftime lead dwindled to a 44-44 tie at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, LSU came out quick, as an 18-4 run gave the Purple and Gold Tigers a 14-point lead at 62-48. Mizzou was unable to get closer than eight after the LSU run.

TOP TIGERS

1. Blackwell led the Tigers in scoring (12) and rebounding (14) while posting her third career double-double.
2. Freshman forward Hayley Frank (Strafford, Mo.) scored 11 points while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists.
3. Senior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) scored 11 points and had eight rebounds in the game.

NOTES

1. Mizzou shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field, the 14th time this season they have shot 40 percent or better in a game.
2. Blackwell recorded her second consecutive and third double-double of the season with a team-high 12 points and 14 rebounds.
3. With 12 points, Blackwell scored in double figures for the eighth consecutive game, the 15th time in the last 17 games and the 17th time overall this season.
4. The freshman guard moved up three spots on the all-time Mizzou freshmen scoring list, as she now ranks third with 329 points. Blackwell passed Shakara Jones (327, 2007-08), Julie Maxey (326, 1976-77) and Cindy Kiser (325, 1976-77).
5. Blackwell grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in the game, her third game with 10+ boards and her 20th game with at least five rebounds.
6. Frank scored 11 points in the game, her 16th game in double figures this season.
7. With 11 points, Smith scored in double figures for the 14th time this season and the 54th time in her career.
8. Smith moved up to No. 21 on the Mizzou all-time scoring list with 1,225 points, passing Lisa Sandbothe (1,218 points, 1987-91).
9. Smith also grabbed eight rebounds in the game, the 14th time this season and the 61st time in her career she has recorded at least five rebounds.

UP NEXT

Next, Mizzou return home to Mizzou Arena to host Florida on Sunday, Feb. 16. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.