After leading the first three quarters, Murray State women’s basketball fell 74-60 to No. 7 ranked LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday night. 

Kim Mulkey’s veteran squad took the lead quickly with a few quick shots at the start of the game. After the Tigers distanced themselves in the first quarter, the Racers had a scoring streak that put them ahead of LSU for the remainder of the half. Murray State scored 20 points in the paint to LSU’s 12 and took nine rebounds to LSU’s eleven in the first half. 

The Racers entered the third quarter up 46-37 and were able to maintain that lead throughout the quarter, finishing up 54-53. However, teamwork between LSU’s Aneesah Morrow and Flau-Jae Johnson resulted in 21 fourth quarter points; they held Murray State to 6. 

Ava Learn posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Her teammates Halli Poock and Haven Ford joined her in scoring double digits with 15 points and 10 points, respectively. The Tigers defense held Katelyn Young to eight points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes on the court. 

The Racers kept the NCAA 2023 Women’s Basketball Champions to a season low 74 points. In previous games this season, the Tigers have not scored lower than 95 points. 

Murray State will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, on Nov. 23 to play the Memphis Tigers at 2 p.m.