Missouri State punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament First Round with an 85-75 win over Stephen F. Austin in the First Four, marking the program’s 20th all-time tournament victory and extending its streak to at least one win in each of its last four appearances. The Lady Bears leaned on a balanced attack and strong interior presence to overcome a fast-paced start and a late push from the Ladyjacks. With the win, Missouri State now turns its attention to a daunting matchup against No. 1 seed Texas.
Kaemyn Bekemeier led the charge with a dominant 22-point, 13-rebound performance, recording her 10th double-double of the season and surpassing 600 points on the year. Lainie Douglas added her own double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while freshmen Maiesha Washington and Kendal Brueggen delivered big moments with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Faith Lee rounded out a strong offensive effort with 10 points as Missouri State placed five players in double figures.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Missouri State broke the game open with a 13-0 run, sparked by Washington and fueled by contributions across the lineup, building a 15-point lead. While Stephen F. Austin made one final push in the fourth, holding the Lady Bears to just 10 points, Missouri State’s defense answered by limiting the Ladyjacks to 14 points on 25 percent shooting to seal the win.
The Lady Bears now advance to face Texas on Friday at 3:00 p.m.