KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Kierra Anthony scored 27 points and Taylor Stahly added 20 points but it wasn't enough as Missouri State dominated Louisiana Tech on the boards in route to an 82-70 win over the Lady Techsters Thursday at Swinney Recreation Center.

The Lady Bears (2-7), who had lost five games by four points or less coming into the game, outscored Tech (7-4) 42-21 on points in the paint and 17-4 on second chance points thanks to a 50-31 rebounding advantage.

"I thought we got outworked," said LA Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "I thought we got outworked in transition defense. We got outworked on the glass. I told everyone coming in I was so worried about this game. They are a quality, quality team and they are going to win a lot of games in the Missouri Valley (Conference). They have played a difficult schedule.

"They have players that can score. We felt we needed to keep their big three to their average. Two of the three had their average at halftime. I thought we did a poor job defensively. We gave them too many easy looks. I didn't think our bigs ran well. I thought we got out worked on the glass. It's disappointing because it's something I felt this group had really improved on over the last 15 days. Tonight (Missouri State's) energy and their effort was just better."

Despite the lack of success on the glass and on the defensive end, LA Tech led 57-54 with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. However, Missouri State took advantage of some poor defense and a bad turnover in the back court in the final two minutes to gain the momentum and a 62-59 lead after three quarters.

"We had executed so well against Ole Miss in two-for-ones at the end of quarters," said Stoehr. "We did that great. But tonight we have an inbounder who rolls the ball in to play despite having two defenders up pressuring our guard. For whatever reason we roll it up, and their kid picks it up and lays it in. That's just a mental error where her focus wasn't where it should have been. I thought that gave them some momentum. Our scoring wasn't the issue. It was completely our defense, our effort on the boards and mental lapses."

Missouri State started the fourth quarter in a zone after playing man-to-man in the first 30 minutes, and the adjustment caused LA Tech issues. After a three-pointer by Anthony cut the MSU lead to 66-62 with 8:50 remaining, Tech went over five minutes without scoring. By the time Grayson Bright hit a jumper in the lane, Tech trailed by double figures with less than four minutes to play.

"We talked all week about how to attack the zone," said Stoehr. "And we did exactly what we talked about not doing. We threw it where they wanted us to throw it and nothing good happened when we did. It's what happens when you don't concentrate and execute the scouting report. I thought they had a really good game play and they came out and executed really well. We didn't."

Stahly kept Tech in the game early. The Newton, Kansas, native hit three three-pointers in the opening quarter to keep the Lady Techsters competitive. Tech trailed 21-16 at the end of one. Anthony joined the three-point barrage in the second quarter, hitting three of her own. The Lady Techsters hit 8-of-15 from behind the arc in the first half and trailed 39-38 at the break.  

"I thought Taylor and Kee competed and knocked down some shots and did some good things," said Stoehr. "But defensively we just got whipped on the glass. Those are the things I look at and say those are things we can control."

Danielle Gitzen scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Alexa Willard added 19 points for Missouri State.

Tech will face host UMKC Friday at 5:30 p.m.