STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a decisive final push, the Missouri Tigers women’s basketball team delivered a significant road upset, defeating the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs 88-80 in a Southeastern Conference matchup Sunday at Humphrey Coliseum.

Missouri, improving to 15-9 overall, executed with remarkable offensive efficiency to overcome a relentless Mississippi State effort on the offensive glass. The Lady Bulldogs, who fell to 16-7, dominated the rebounding battle with 18 offensive boards but could not match the Tigers’ shooting precision.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the fourth quarter. After Mississippi State’s Trayanna Crisp connected on a 3-pointer to cut Missouri’s lead to 71-68 with just over five minutes remaining, the Tigers responded with a composed and clinical 9-0 run that effectively sealed the victory. The surge was ignited by Abbey Schreacke’s 3-pointer off an assist from Chloe Sotell. Following a Mississippi State turnover, Shannon Dowell drew a foul and sank a free throw. Grace Slaughter then delivered the dagger, a 3-pointer from the wing assisted by Dowell, extending the Missouri advantage to 80-68 with 3:04 left on the clock. Mississippi State never recovered, getting no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Missouri’s victory was built on a foundation of exceptional shooting. The Tigers converted 32 of 55 field goal attempts, a 58.2% clip, and hit 12 of 26 from 3-point range. They were also efficient from the free-throw line, making 12 of 15. This offensive precision yielded an offensive rating of 123.7 points per 100 possessions. Mississippi State, by contrast, struggled with its shot, making only 30 of 72 attempts overall and 12 of 34 from beyond the arc, resulting in an offensive rating of 114.7.

Shannon Dowell led all Missouri scorers with 21 points, adding six rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes. Her performance marked a significant rebound from a four-point outing in her previous game. Grace Slaughter contributed 18 points, while Abbey Schreacke added 13, including three 3-pointers. Saniah Tyler provided a key spark off the bench with 12 points.

Mississippi State’s effort was led by Kharyssa Richardson, who scored 21 points and grabbed five rebounds. Madison Francis posted a near double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Trayanna Crisp scored 18 points. Favour Nwaedozi anchored the interior defense with three blocks.

The game began at a fast pace, with Missouri taking an early 5-0 lead. The teams traded baskets throughout a high-scoring first half. Missouri led 22-20 after the first quarter, but Mississippi State used a 24-point second quarter to take a slim 44-43 lead into halftime. The Tigers reclaimed control with a 25-point third quarter, entering the final period with a 68-65 advantage before pulling away with their late-game run.

Despite being outrebounded 18-4 on the offensive glass and committing 13 turnovers to Mississippi State’s 11, Missouri’s superior shooting and timely execution in the clutch proved insurmountable. The Tigers also dished out seven assists to the Lady Bulldogs’ six and recorded seven steals.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Mississippi State in SEC play. Missouri, which had lost two of its last three conference games, secured a crucial road victory against a team that had been projected as a heavy favorite by advanced metrics.

Attendance at Humphrey Coliseum was 4,214.

Missouri next travels to face Arkansas on Thursday. Mississippi State will hit the road for a challenging contest at South Carolina, also on Thursday.