No. 7 Kentucky Falls at Mississippi State on Sunday
Tonie Morgan scored 15 points and handed out seven assists, but No. 7 Kentucky fell at Mississippi State 71-59 on Sunday.
Jordan Obi had 12 points for UK, while Asia Boone and Amelia Hassett each had 11. Clara Strack had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Strack also blocked five shots.
Mississippi State scored the first four points before Strack hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead in half. The Bulldogs scored seven straight before Morgan drove to the basket and scored, cutting the deficit to 11-4.
MSU would go ahead 15-5, but the Cats got a Morgan free throw, an Obi layup and a Hassett three to get within four, 15-11. The Bulldogs scored to stop the UK run, but Morgan followed with two free throws to make it 17-13. MSU would lead 18-13 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Kentucky went cold, missing its first six shots from the field, allowing Mississippi State to go on a 6-0 run. Strack scored on a layup, Boone hit a three, Strack converted a layup and Boone hit another three, Morgan and Obi scored on layups, completing a 14-0 run that gave Kentucky a 27-24 lead.
MSU scored to stop the run, but Obi scored again and UK led 29-26. MSU hit two free throws, followed by another Strack basket. After the Bulldogs scored again, Obi scored underneath and Kentucky took a 33-30 lead into the half.
The Bulldogs scored first in the third quarter before UK got an Obi basket and a Boone three to lead 38-32. MSU scored the next seven to take the lead back, but Kentucky got layups from Hassett and Morgan to lead 42-39.
Mississippi State scored the next nine points to lead 48-42, but Morgan scored just before the end of the quarter to cut the MSU lead to four.
Obi scored to start the fourth quarter, then Strack hit a free throw to get UK within one, 48-47. However, the Bulldogs scored five in a row to lead by six. Morgan scored to make it 53-49, but MSU hit consecutive threes, then a bucket in the lane and a layup to lead 63-49. A Hassett jumper ended the run.
After MSU scored, UK got baskets from Morgan and Boone to get within 10, 65-55. Hassett then hit a three to get the Cats within seven. However, the Cats would get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, visiting Knoxville to face Tennessee. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
