The biggest issue plaguing Missouri women's basketball is one the team can solve itself

Missouri women's basketball and LSU women's basketball are at two different points in their juncture. It showed after halftime.

Missouri, a younger team that plays four freshmen consistently, trailed the reigning NCAA national champions 39-32 on the road. MU had gone toe-to-toe with one of the most talented teams in America for two quarters.

Then, came the third quarter.

There's no shame in having a team like LSU beat you. Some programs go decades without a talent like Angel Reese, let alone having Reese, Flau'jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith on the same roster.

But, in Missouri's case, self-inflicted wounds kept MU down. Those wounds were 18 turnovers that led to 29 points off those turnovers. That turnover cloud, which has hung over Missouri for most of the season, is keeping MU from displaying how far it has handled its learning curve.

"We just didn't value the ball at the level that we needed to," MU head coach Robin Pingeton said. "We knew those live ball turnovers would come, come back to bite us, and I thought they did."

Whenever a team like LSU needs a basket, it doesn't have to look far.

Missouri cut the LSU lead to 47-41 after an intentional foul was called on Angel Reese that led to two made free throws by Hayley Frank and a 3-pointer by Frank. MU had the momentum, for about a few seconds anyway.

LSU had to cut the energy and did so with a bucket from Annesah Morrow. A Missouri turnover led to a Mikaylah Williams 3-pointer, and the rout was on. After an 11-0 run, Pingeton called time out. LSU just actively pummeled Missouri. The national champs were at work.

What LSU did not do, however, was commit five turnovers in the span of 1:30.

That was all on Missouri.

"In the SEC having 18 turnovers, you're gonna make it a long night for yourself," Pingeton said. "So, just the importance of that ball security."

Pingeton noted that LSU is one of the best teams at forcing turnovers in the country. LSU is exactly that, as the Bayou Bengals are fifth in the nation when it comes to the average number of turnovers it forces per game.

Columbia's Tigers played LSU tight in the first half. There were made baskets and passes into open looks from 3-point range, plus some good defense. But, eventually, LSU dug in and started dominating the post.

Reese, Morrow and Johnson were attacking the basket. The reigning national champions were showing why they earned that and a top-10 ranking. Hailey Van Lith eventually found offensive life, too.

Williams, a freshman for LSU, also scored in some incredible ways. LSU's players are the cream of the crop, and this isn't to give undeserved praise to LSU.

It's just a stark contrast to Missouri's roster. Missouri needed a player who could cut into LSU's third-quarter run. There wasn't one until Mama Dembele cut into the lane for an easy layup.

It's because LSU wasn't the only thing pummeling Missouri. Turnovers are the biggest cloud hanging over this team.

"You're going to have possessions that seem bigger than what they are," Pingeton said. But I think just real-life experience and going through the fires and, again, I think so many times you try and skip the stages, but we've got a young team playing on a big stage. We've just got to continue to learn and grow from it."

There aren't many teams like Missouri right now. As in, teams that are starting multiple freshmen. MU starts Grace Slaughter, rightfully so, and Hannah Linthacum, who starts in place of an injured Angie Ngalakulondi. Plus, Abbey Schreake and Hilke Feldrappe also earn consistent minutes, too.

That's plenty of a learning curve, but 12 of Missouri's 18 turnovers were committed by players with starting experience.

That led to the terrible third quarter and overshadowed solid play from Abby Feit, Dembele and Linthacum.

Linthacum played well against Reese and Morrow, two of the best players in college basketball. She had four rebounds and held her own. Pingeton agreed with the thought Linthacum played a good game.

Feit was active as a rebounder and looked to have found her niche in the ways she can contribute on offense.

Dembele remains Missouri's best player. She plays at a pace the SEC requires; she was active as a passer with nine assists; she was active on defense with five steals. Frank scored 22 points, but got two fouls in the first quarter and only had two rebounds.

Turnovers are something Pingeton has been aiming to fix for a while this season.

Missouri's 18 on Thursday were tied for fourth most in a game this season. It plagued Missouri in losses to St. Louis and Virginia. Cutting down turnovers in those games would have flipped losses into wins.

Missouri might not have had the right players to upset LSU on Thursday, but a turnover-filled game kept us from seeing how much Missouri has grown.

"It's just part of the SEC," Pingeton said. "Tonight's a tough matchup and in a tough environment, but we're going to learn from it.

Next, Missouri gets Alabama at home. That starts the foray into SEC play which looks unforgiving this season.

Out of the 14 teams in the league, only four have yet to reach the 10-win mark. Vanderbilt is 14-1. Mississippi State is 13-2. Texas A&M is 12-2. These are teams Missouri beat last year. It won't be that simple.

But, if Missouri wants to use a baptism by fire to correct its biggest problem, MU doesn't have many more games to correct that consistent issue.

"That's the great thing about the SEC is that you got about eight weeks," Pingeton said. "It's going to be action-packed and you got another opportunity in a couple days."

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: In LSU loss, Mizzou women's basketball biggest plague are turnovers