A slow start doomed the New Bloomfield Lady Wildcats in a Show-Me Conference clash between state-ranked teams.
New Bloomfield - ranked No. 9 in Class 2 - was outscored 23-9 in the first quarter of its 70-46 SMC loss to the Tuscumbia Lady Lions, ranked No. 4 in Class 1, on Thursday night.
The Lady Wildcats (18-4, 5-2 SMC) lost for the first time in four games and just the second in their last 17 contests.
Tuscumbia's pressure overwhelmed New Bloomfield, which failed to capitalize at the basket when it was able to break that pressure in the opening quarter.
"We just could not finish a shot and their press is such that you have to be able to hit shots on the back end of it," New Bloomfield head coach Brett Craighead said. "... They try to speed you up and you have to make those baskets on the back end, even a layup or a jump shot, and we just couldn't hit a shot."
The Lady Lions took a comfortable 41-24 advantage into the break and then outscored the Lady Wildcats 29-22 in the second half.
Senior forward Ashley Kelley paced New Bloomfield with 17 points. Freshman guard Madi Craighead added 13 points, while senior forward Taylor Howard tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds.
TaKayla Gunter poured in a game-high 24 points for Tuscumbia. Tempary Gunter and Kendra Vaughan both added 13 points, while Summer Rush logged 12.
The Lady Wildcats play in a junior varsity boys and varsity girls-boys' tripleheader against Novinger beginning at noon Saturday at Moberly Area Community College.