LSU-Colorado score, highlights: Top-ranked Tigers fall in first game of national title defense

No. 1 LSU’s quest to defend its first NCAA women’s basketball title began with a loss on Monday.

In a matchup of preseason top-20 teams, a new-look Tigers squad featuring some familiar faces and a number of impactful newcomers fell to No. 18 Colorado 92-78 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the Hall of Fame Series.

With the setback, LSU became the first preseason No. 1 team in the Coaches Poll to lose its season-opener since UConn was defeated by Louisiana Tech 83-81 in overtime in 1995. Interestingly enough, current LSU head coach Kim Mulkey was an assistant coach for that victorious Louisiana Tech team.

REQUIRED READING: What channel is LSU vs. Colorado on today?

The Tigers struggled offensively against an aggressive and trapping Colorado defense. With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, they had made just 23 of their 59 field goal attempts (39%) before a late offensive outburst in garbage time brought their number for the game up to a more respectable 43.9%.

An LSU team known for its dominant play inside was outscored 42-38 in the paint and struggled to keep up with the Buffaloes, who outscored the Tigers 28-9 on fast-break points.

Leading by six at halftime, Colorado pulled away in the game’s final 20 minutes with some blistering outside shooting. The Buffaloes made 43.5% of their 3-pointers for the evening, including 8 of 13 attempts in the second half. That excellence from beyond the arc was exemplified by Danish guard Frida Formann, who scored a game-high 27 points and made 7 of 11 attempts from deep.

First-team all-American and reigning Final Four Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, but missed nine of her 15 shots and had four fouls as she faced double teams for much of the night.

After playing a more limited role last season as a freshman, Sa'Myah Smith had 16 points and five rebounds while making six of her eight shots while freshman guard Mikaylah Williams impressed in her first college game, with 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting. In her first game with the program since transferring from Louisville in the offseason, Hailey Van Lith had 14 points and a game-high seven assists.

Though it was able to force 21 turnovers, LSU was disorderly and uneven for much of the game, finishing with 19 itself. Only 13 of the Tigers’ 29 made field goals were assisted, compared to 24 of Colorado’s 33.

Here are highlights and updates from the contest:

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LSU vs. Colorado score

LSU vs. Colorado updates, highlights

Fourth quarter: Colorado 92, LSU 78

8:39 p.m.: That'll do it. LSU falls in its season opener in surprising fashion, falling by 14 to Colorado.

8:31 p.m.: Another 3 for the Buffaloes, this one from Miller, is Colorado's eighth triple of the half. It's 8 of 12 from beyond the arc and is up by 15 with 2:21 left.

8:27 p.m.: Four LSU players in double figures, led by Williams' 17, but it's too little too late for the Tigers, who trail by 16 with 3:08 left.

8:21 p.m.: A frustrating night for Reese on a frustrating night for her team. Has good counting stats, with 13 points and 10 boards, but she has been getting hounded on the post all night and is just 5 of 14 from the field. Just picked up her fourth foul, too, with 5:28 left.

8:17 p.m.: Another Formann 3 has Colorado up 19 now. Formann is now 6 of 9 from 3 tonight and has a game-high 24 points.

8:15 p.m.: Taylor Rooks said Morrow is continuing to walk on her own power, with trainers looking at her knee.

8:14 p.m.: Williams is now up to 17 points on 8 of 15 shooting in her first college game.

8:11 p.m.: Morrow down under the basket, being looked at by trainers and and Mulkey. She walks back to the bench on her own power.

Third quarter: Colorado 63, LSU 51

8:06 p.m.: A pair of free throws from Last-Tear Poa cuts into the deficit a bit, getting LSU within 12 entering the final period. Tigers have been outscored 49-35 the past two quarters.

8:02 p.m.: Another Formann 3 pushes Colorado's lead to 14. Never underestimate a champion, especially with its back against the wall, but LSU needs to change up something quickly if it's going to get back in this game.

Buffaloes are 5 of 8 from 3 in the third quarter.

8:00 p.m.: Vonleh avoids the charge and splits a pair of LSU defenders with a nice finish for a three-point play. Buffaloes up 11 with 1:53 left in the quarter.

7:58 p.m.: A Van Lith floater answers a 3 from Formann to keep LSU within striking distance with 3:30 left in the period. Then Williams follows it up with a mid-range jumper. Tigers within seven.

7:56 p.m.: LSU now within six after a Morrow jumper with 4:40 left.

7:52 p.m.: Morrow picks up her third foul with 4:49 left in the third quarter. She did an excellent job of preventing Miller from getting what looked like an easy layup, but after getting blocked initially, Miller was able to regain possession and get another attempt up.

7:50 p.m.: Colorado has done an effective job consistently getting double teams on the post. It's been most obvious when it's Reese getting fed the ball, but it has happened with other LSU players, as well.

7:47 p.m.: Reese and Williams are a combined 9 of 23 from the field.

7:41 p.m.: Colorado's lead is now up to 11 after a 3 from Frida Formann.

7:35 p.m.: On the Colorado end, Jaylyn Sherrod has been the big difference-maker, with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. She has been careless at times, though, with 4 turnovers. Aaronette Vonleh, the younger sister of NBA player Noah Vonleh, with 9 points on 4-of-5 shooting, along with 4 rebounds.

Quay Miller, the Buffaloes' leading scorer last season, was held to one point on just one shot attempt in the first half. She was in some early foul trouble, with two fouls.

7:32 p.m.: And some individual stats for LSU:

• Angel Reese: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4-11 shooting, 2 turnovers

• Hailey Van Lith: 8 points, 2 assists, 2-5 shooting, 2-3 from 3

• Mikaylah Williams: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 3-8 shooting

• Aneesah Morrow: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1-5 shooting

7:27 p.m.: Some team halftime stats from Vegas:

• Field goal percentage: Colorado 47%, LSU 33%

• 3-point percentage: LSU 38%, Colorado 20%

• Free throw percentage: Colorado 80%, LSU 50%

• Turnovers: Colorado 12, LSU 9

• Rebounds: LSU 22, Colorado 22

• Offensive rebounds: LSU 7, Colorado 3

• Points in the paint: Colorado 22, LSU 18

• Fast-break points: Colorado 11, LSU 5

Halftime: Colorado 38, LSU 32

7:22 p.m.: Van Lith and Sherrod both miss 3s in the final 10 seconds and we go into halftime with the Buffaloes holding a six-point lead over the reigning national champs.

7:21 p.m.: After a rough offensive stretch for both teams, they're starting to come alive offensively, with a combined 13 points in the past 1:30.

7:20 p.m.: A 3-pointer from Aaronette Vonleh gives Colorado its largest lead of the day at seven points.

7:15 p.m.: Sherrod is back in the game and just got a three-point play on a layup while she was fouled by Reese. Colorado back on top.

7:13 p.m.: LSU is just 1 of 7 on its last seven shots from the field, and Colorado is within two.

7:09 p.m.: A pair of Van Lith free throws and a Reese layup off an offensive rebound in 31 seconds extends LSU's lead to six with six minutes left.

7:07 p.m.: TNT sideline reporter Taylor Rooks notes that Sherrod "should be good" to go back in the game for Colorado.

7:03 p.m.: Colorado's Jaylyn Sherrod, an all-Pac-12 defensive team honoree last season, is leaving the game after taking an inadvertent hit from Angel Reese while going for a rebound.

7:01 p.m.: A beautiful pass on the BLOB play from Van Lith, who finds Sa'Myah Smith for an easy layup.

7:00 p.m.: Both teams are struggling offensively so far, shooting under 40% from the field, but kudos to both defenses, as well. Really active hands and intensity

First quarter: LSU 16, Colorado 14

6:51 p.m.: LSU just 6 of 18 from the field so far. Probably an encouraging sign for the Tigers that they've looked so uneven, but are still holding on to the lead.

6:46 p.m.: Four turnovers for Colorado in the past four minutes.

6:42 p.m.: LSU has quickly started to round into form, going on an 8-0 run to take a two-possession lead. Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith keying the spurt with a pair of 3-pointers.

6:37 p.m.: Not an ideal start for the Tigers, who have spotted Colorado an early 6-2 lead about three minutes into the contest.

What channel is LSU vs. Colorado on today?

• TV channel: TNT

• Streaming info: TNTDrama.com, Sling TV

The contest between the Tigers and Buffaloes will be broadcast on TNT. Angel Gray (play-by-play) and seven-time WNBA all-star Candace Parker (analyst) will call the game while Taylor Rooks will serve as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include TNTDrama.com, the network's online viewing platform, and Sling.

LSU women's basketball schedule 2023

*Exhibition** Cayman Islands Classic*** ACC/SEC Challenge

Colorado women's basketball schedule 2023

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: LSU vs. Colorado women's basketball score, game highlights