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SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State out-scored visiting Truman State by 27 points over a 17-minute stretch on either side of halftime Tuesday evening in a 72-62 victory over the Bulldogs in the first game of the exhibition season at JQH Arena.
The Lady Bears closed the first half on a 13-0 run over the final seven-plus minutes, and shot 58 percent and scored 30 points in the third period to grow their lead to 64-39 after three quarters.
Junior guard Liza Fruendt scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the game’s first three minutes, and MSU led 17-10 at the end of one quarter after forcing six turnovers and holding the visitors to 25 percent shooting. The Bulldogs opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run, and led 21-19 on a 3-pointer with 7:36 left until halftime before going more than eight minutes without a point.
Truman State shot 9-for-16 in the fourth quarter and forced seven MSU turnovers to cut the final margin to 10 points.
Aubrey Buckley added 10 points for MSU and Lexi Hughes scored nine, while all 11 active players scored and grabbed a rebound. Freshman Shameka Ealy filled the stat sheet with seven points, eight boards, three steals and two blocks, while classmate Brice Calip dished out four assists. Senior Rachel Swartz added eight rebounds as well as the Lady Bears owned a 47-26 lead in that category.
Missouri State shot 46.6 percent in the game and an efficient 8-for-14 from beyond the 3-point line, while the Bulldogs shot 35.7 percent and hoisted 33 treys, making 13.
MSU closes the exhibition schedule Sunday at 2 p.m. against Northeastern State at JQH Arena, and begins the regular season with a 7 p.m. game at Memphis on Nov. 11.
