The Missouri State Lady Bears are Conference USA Tournament champions, holding off Louisiana Tech 43-38 in Saturday’s title game in Huntsville, Alabama.
It’s the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Coach Beth Cunningham at the helm of the Lady Bears.
See the news release below from Missouri State Athletics for a recap of Saturday’s game and an NCAA Tournament Selection Show watch party Sunday evening at Great Southern Bank Arena that fans are invited to attend.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Missouri State women’s basketball (22-12) punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 43-38 victory over Louisiana Tech (26-6) in the CUSA Women’s Basketball Championship title game.
It marks Mo State’s 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and 12th conference tournament crown in program history. It also secures the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Bears under head coach Beth Cunningham.
Kaemyn Bekemeier was named CUSA Tournament MVP and posted 16 points and nine rebounds in the title game. Lainie Douglas was also named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team, contributing 15 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks (career high). Douglas’ seven blocks rank tied for fifth in a single game in program history and the team’s 12 blocks are tied for third in single game (tied most against a DI opponent). The Lady Bears’ 43 points are tied for the fewest points in a win in program history, but the MoState defense held Louisiana Tech to their lowest point total of the season.
The Missouri State defense held the Lady Techsters to 12 points in the second half en route to the championship. The Lady Bears started their run in the third, flipping the lead to a three-point advantage after a 6-0 run, and later pushed the lead to six with another 6-0 run as the game entered the fourth.
The two teams swapped baskets to start the period and then neither team scored for the next seven-and-half minutes. Then, a Louisiana Tech trey cut the lead to three again with 0:33, but the Lady Bears converted their late free throws to seal it.
The start of this one was extremely competitive as the opening quarter saw six lead changes and three ties. Kaemyn Bekemeier got off to an incredible start, scoring nine of the Lady Bears’ 12 first quarter points. The entire opening period stayed at a one-possession game until the final 0:23 seconds after a Louisiana Tech layup gave the Lady Techsters a four-point, 16-12, lead after one.
Louisiana Tech extended its lead to six to open the second quarter, before Mo State reeled off seven straight points to reclaim the lead. Bekemeier’s trey kickstarted the run, before Maiesha Washington and Lainie Douglas layups gave the No. 6 seed Lady Bears a 19-18 lead. With the lead switching hands again, the Lady Techsters hit back-to-back threes to stretch their lead to five. Douglas answered back with a layup in the final seconds to make it a 26-23 game at the intermission.
Missouri State will hear its name called at tomorrow night’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Missouri State will host a watch party at Great Southern Bank Arena tomorrow night (March 15). Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:00 p.m. #GoBears
