It’s hard to win a game you never lead. Such was the Tiger’s dilemma Thursday night as they lost to Kentucky at home, 78-63.

Mizzou’s first challenge arose even before tip-off, when Aijha Blackwell, Ladazhia Williams, Kiya Dorroh and Skylah Travis didn’t warm up with the team. 

When asked why these players didn’t step on the court, Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton kept her explanation vague. 

“We have really high standards and expectations for our program, and there’s got to be an accountability piece to it,” Pingeton said. 

Playing with an unusual starting lineup, the game seemed to start quicker than the Tigers expected. The Wildcats’ speed and aggression caught the Tigers off-guard, and Mizzou’s offense appeared frazzled in response. Kentucky buried Mizzou early, dumping the Tigers in a 19-4 hole they’d never fully climb out of.

With Williams on the sideline, Mizzou center Jayla Kelly earned her first career start. Kelly gave Mizzou its first score of the night, and the young Tiger never looked back, racking up 8 of 11 total points in the first quarter. Kelly credits her preparation in practice for the confidence she brought to the court. “That was special,” said Pingeton of Kelly’s first half performance.

By stretching out their offensive possessions, often right to the shot clock buzzer, the Tigers slowed the game’s pace and retained composure in the second quarter. The slower pace worked well for Kentucky too, as guard Rhyne Howard proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for the Tigers. Howard, who ended with 19 points, was all over the court, shooting 5-for-13 inside the arc, grabbing 12 rebounds and earning a perfect 12 points from the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, Mizzou’s Kelly, Haley Troup and Hayley Frank worked in tandem, with points from crafty assists and nimble footwork reigniting the crowd’s energy as the Tigers entered halftime trailing 46-42.

The third quarter featured scoring draughts and sloppy offensive mistakes for both teams. Despite cutting their deficit to one point a few times, the Tigers seemed doomed in their attempts to overtake the scoreboard. 

As the clock wore on, the Tigers grew fatigued, and they began to fall apart. Despite several good looks, Mizzou shot only 18 percent on its field goals and missed every 3-point attempt in the fourth quarter. The final buzzer ended what was quickly becoming a blow-out, as the Tigers lost to an opponent they’ll likely face again soon in the SEC tournament. 

Despite the final score, Pingeton was proud of her team for playing their “ever-living tails off,” and she remained confident for the remainder of the season. “The story’s not over,” Pingeton said.