Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball team fell to Missouri State 75-52 on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Missouri.

The Lady Toppers started the game on a cold streak, being outscored 21-3 after going 1-of-13 from the field in the first quarter.

WKU (5-17 overall, 1-10 Conference USA) started the second quarter on a 5-0 run behind a 3-pointer from Zsofia Telegdy and a pair of free throws from Tia Shelling. Mya Pratcher provided a spark, scoring six points on three possessions for WKU to get the Lady Toppers back within 12. After a Missouri State (15-8, 7-3 CUSA) basket, Trinity Rowe scored five straight points to cut it to nine. The Lady Bears knocked down a 3, but then Telegdy hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Caleigh-Rose West got a layup to cut the lead down to four. Missouri State scored the final points of the quarter to take a 33-27 lead into halftime.

The Lady Tops’ Torri James made 1-of-2 from the foul line to score the first points of the third quarter, cutting Missouri State’s lead down to five. The Lady Bears responded with a 6-0 run, but WKU came right back with a 5-0 run. From there, Missouri State outscored WKU 10-8, seven of the 10 points coming from the free-throw line, to take a 49-41 lead into the final quarter.

After going back and forth to start the quarter, Missouri State used a 17-3 run to build a 22-point lead with 2:34 left. The Lady Bears outscored WKU 26-11 in the fourth quarter to claim the win.

Salma Khedr led the Lady Toppers in scoring for the seventh time this season with 10 points along with four rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block. It was her 11th double-digit game of the season.

Telegdy and Pratcher each added nine points.

The three points scored by WKU in the first quarter were a season low for the Lady Toppers for points scored in a quarter, but the 24 WKU scored in the second quarter tied the season high for points scored in a quarter.

The Lady Toppers will return to Diddle Arena to host Kennesaw State for the annual Education Game on Thursday at 11 a.m.