Middle Tennessee State women's basketball had another March Madness upset in mind, but a back-breaking stretch of the third quarter doomed the Lady Raiders on Sunday in a 83-56 loss to LSU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The No. 11 seed Lady Raiders (30-5), who upset Louisville in the first round, thanks to one of the biggest comebacks in tournament history, were trying to advance past the second round for the first time in program history.

Fifth-year guard Savannah Wheeler led MTSU with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Second-team All-American Angel Reese scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for No. 3 seed LSU (30-5). Flau'jae Johnson led the Tigers with 21 points.

Foul trouble in second half for MTSU

LSU dominated the final 14 minutes, erasing an almost double-digit deficit, thanks to a run of 39-8 that began in the third quarter and extended into the fourth.

LSU took control of the game late in the third quarter, erasing a nine-point deficit to take a 59-49 lead entering the fourth quarter.

MTSU battled foul trouble in the second half, including 6-foot-6 center Anastasiia Boldyreva fouling out with a minute left in the third after scoring nine points with five rebounds. Reese waved bye after Boldyreva fouled out.

Junior guard Jalynn Gregory, sophomore guard Ta'Mia Scott and backup center Iullia Grabovskaia both had four fouls entering the fourth and Scott fouled out with 7:16 left. She finished with 15 points.

Fifth-year forward Courtney Whitson fouled out in the fourth quarter.

MTSU led by as much as 41-32 early in the third quarter before LSU went on a 10-0 run. MTSU led 43-42 after a Scott basket to end the run.

MTSU defense was strong in first half

MTSU started the game much better than it did Friday's 71-69 comeback win over Louisville in the first round. The Lady Raiders took a 7-4 lead, and even after a 14-3 LSU run, trailed the Tigers just 20-15 after one period.

MTSU: Why Rick Insell's granddaughter has been darling of Baton Rouge

MTSU had a 14-2 run during the second quarter and turned a 24-15 deficit into a 29-26 lead, thanks to a defense that limited LSU to several missed outside shots.

The Lady Raiders led 36-32 at halftime, thanks to 13 points by Scott.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU women's basketball unable to stop LSU's second half in March Madness