The LSU Lady Tigers went on the road Thursday night to knock off the No. 15 Missouri Tigers for their first win against a top-15 team since 2015.
“We had composure and played with great patience,” said coach Nikki Fargas in the postgame radio interview. “We took care of the basketball and got the looks we wanted.”
Missouri was without its leading scorer Sophie Cunningham, who is averaging 18.2 points per game.
LSU (10-3, 2-0 SEC) was stymied by Missouri (13-2, 1-1 SEC) in the first quarter. LSU did not score for the first 6 minutes of the quarter, before junior Chloe Jackson got LSU on the board before falling down 4-11.
LSU freshman Khayla Pointer sank a three to in the waning seconds of the quarter to close it to 7-11, which started a hot streak to start the second quarter.
LSU exploded with 25 points in the second quarter, while holding Mizzou to just 10. Jackson, Pointer, and senior Raigyne Louis all tallied 9 points in the first half.
“The play of Pointer in the first half was huge,” Fargas said. “It set the tone that allowed us to pull away in the second quarter. That 25-10 quarter was something that she spearheaded.”
LSU eased up a bit in the third quarter allowing Missouri to get back into, but LSU did enough to keep Mizzou out of reach to go up 49-42. Mizzou was able to close the lead down to 5, but never closer in the quarter.
Missouri continued its comeback in the second half closing it down to 63-61 with 45 seconds left, before Louis sunk a jump shot to put LSU back up by 4 allowing LSU to close out with the road win.
“You cannot say enough about the defensive effort of our team to hold Missouri to 65 on their home court,” Fargas said. “We had a few defensive mishaps, but all credit to Missouri. They are a very good team.”
LSU continued its three point hot streak by making six on the night. LSU also made 17-of-21 free throws after shooting under 60 percent as a team entering the game.
Jackson led LSU with 22 points, followed by Louis and sophomore forward Ayana Mitchell with 16 and 12 respectively. LSU moved to 11-1 when Jackson, Louis and Mitchell score in double figures.
“When they are playing well, we tend to win,” Fargas said.
Missouri was led by Louisiana native sophomore Amber Smith who put up a career high 27 points.
LSU will host defending national runners-up No. 5 Mississippi State (16-0, 2-0 SEC) at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the PMAC.
