Vanderbilt basketball suffers first SEC loss after fourth-quarter collapse vs. Missouri

Vanderbilt women's basketball suffered its first SEC loss of the season and the end of its nine-game winning streak Sunday in a 65-63 defeat to Missouri at Memorial Gymnasium.

The No. 24 Commodores (16-2, 3-1 SEC) had a 12-point lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter but from that point were outscored 25-11. They allowed 41 points in the second half as Missouri (10-7, 1-3) shot 45% from the field and 41% from 3.

Khamil Pierre came off the bench to lead the Commodores with 16 points and 12 rebounds. She forced a steal in the final seconds of the game off an inbounds play but missed the layup that could've tied the game.

"That was an unbelievable play," Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph said. "She made a steal late. All they had to do was get the inbound clean, and the kid had a layup. And that's a great moment for her to build confidence. I know she's upset she missed it. I am, too. But if she continues to play like she did today, then it will come down to the last play."

Vanderbilt did out-rebound Missouri 44-28, but forced just 10 turnovers while turning the ball over 14 times. The Commodores scored just four points off those 10 forced turnovers.

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Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball suffers first SEC loss in collapse vs. Missouri