SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women’s basketball improved to 22-5 (13-3 MVC) on the season with a 72-65 victory against Indiana State (10-17, 5-11) on Senior Day.
MSU began the game with a starting lineup that featured fifth-year senior Abby Hipp, who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this season, as part of a special senior day honor.
The Lady Bears took an opening possession 10-second violation as Hipp dribbled the ball out to a standing ovation in her final game at JQH Arena.
Sixth-year senior Brice Calip scored the first bucket of the game to get things started for the Lady Bears in a back-and-forth first quarter. After swapping baskets in the early portion of the opening quarter, Indiana State took the lead on a three-pointer at the 7:40 mark. The Sycamores used that shot to spark an 11-3 run to take a six-point lead on the Lady Bears.
However, MSU responded in a dominant way, reeling off an 11-0 run over a nearly two minute span to retake the lead and extend it by five points. Overall, the Lady Bears outscored the Sycamores 13-3 in the final minutes of the opening quarter, six points coming courtesy of fifth-year senior Abi Jackson, to lead 22-18 after the first 10 minutes.
After Indiana State cut the MSU lead back to four points in the first few minutes of the second quarter, MSU went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Paige Rocca three-pointer, to take their first double-digit lead of the game.
A couple of Sycamore threes kept Indiana State within striking distance, but Calip and Sydney Wilson kept the scoring up for the Lady Bears to give MSU the 11-point, 41-30, lead heading into the locker room.
Wilson led all scorers in the first half with 16 points on 100 percent (5-for-5) shooting from the field, while Calip contributed nine points and a team high three first-half rebounds.
MSU opened the second half with back-to-back layups from Jackson and graduate transfer Mariah White to extend the Lady Bear lead to 15 points.
A Sycamore three-ball cut the lead to 12 points before the dominant Lady Bear defense showed up. Missouri State went on to hold Indiana State scoreless for over four minutes, as the Lady Bears scored eight points in that span to increase their lead to 20 points. Indiana State broke its scoring drought at the free throw line, as the Sycamores scored the final four points of the third period to cut MSU’s lead to 16 points heading into the final 10 minutes.
Indiana State would have one final push in the fourth quarter for the Lady Bears. With the Lady Bear lead still hovering around 20 points, the Sycamores were able to go on a 14-3 run beginning with 6:00 remaining in game to cut MSU’s lead to nine points.
Following a Jackson layup, ISU hit a three and then hit two free throws on their next possession to pull within seven points. However, a couple of trips to the free throw line allowed Missouri State to ice the game and end the regular season at JQH with a 13-1 home record.
Wilson, Calip, Jackson and White all recorded double-digit scoring performances for the Lady Bears, while MSU as a team forced 18 Indiana State turnovers and outscored ISU in the paint, 34-24.
Missouri State will close out the regular season on the road next week. The Lady Bears take on Valparaiso on Thursday, March 3 with first tip set for 6 p.m.
