LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Missouri Tigers fell into a double-digit hole in the first quarter it couldn’t climb out of Sunday afternoon and dropped a 77-54 decision to the Kentucky Wildcats in women’s basketball SEC action.
Missouri committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter as Kentucky vaulted to a 22-9 lead. The Wildcats closed the quarter on an 11-2 run.
Kentucky opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run to take a 30-11 advantage with 6:39 left before halftime. Missouri answered with the next eight points in the next two-plus minutes to cut its deficit to 11.
The Tigers got as close as 10 when a 3-pointer by Ashton Judd cut Kentucky’s lead to 32-22. But the Wildcats then closed the half by scoring the next nine points to take a 41-22 advantage into intermission.
Missouri had 17 turnovers in the first half that Kentucky turned into 22 points.
Kentucky opened the third quarter on an 8-3 run to take a 49-25 advantage. Missouri was able to get back to within 17 at 56-39 before Kentucky closed the quarter with a 13-3 spurt to take a 69-42 lead into the fourth quarter.
The closest Missouri got in the fourth quarter was 23 points, the final time after a basket by Averi Kroenke with :24 remaining made the final 77-54.
Jada Walker led four Kentucky players in double figures with 18 points.
Kentucky (10-10 overall 2-7 SEC) will host top-ranked South Carolina on Thursday.
Hayley Frank finished with 21 points for the Tigers.
Missouri (14-8, 3-6), which has lost six straight games, will open a two-game homestand Thursday against Vanderbilt.