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SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State’s defense allowed a season-low 54 points and limited North Texas to 35 percent shooting Saturday afternoon in a 63-54 triumph over the Mean Green (3-7) at JQH Arena.
Lexi Hughes scored a game-high 17 points for the Lady Bears (4-6), Audrey Holt added a career-high 11 points with eight boards, and Liza Fruendt had 10 points and nine rebounds as MSU dominated the glass with a 48-31 final margin and 21 offensive boards.
Missouri State never trailed in the game, scoring the first five points and leading 20-11 on a Hughes trey with 1:58 left in the first quarter. The Lady Bears shot 9-for-16 in the first period, including 4-for-5 from long range, and pushed their lead to double figures at 24-13 on an Aubrey Buckley basket with 9:09 left until halftime.
The Lady Bears made only one field goal over the next nine minutes, and the visitors pulled within two points on two occasions before going without a basket the final 3:53 of the half on the way to a 31-26 MSU lead at the break.
Holt’s jumper with 5:31 left in the third quarter capped a 7-0 run and put MSU’s lead back in double figures at 40-30, and the Lady Bears led by at least seven points for the rest of the game.
Despite shooting 9-for-35 in the second half, MSU managed to grow the advantage to as many as 14 points thanks to making 13 free throws after the break and 18-for-24 showing in the game. The Mean Green closed to 57-49 with 3:20 left, and MSU countered with a 6-0 run to put the finishing touches on its second straight win.
MSU closes out its non-conference schedule Monday at 6 p.m. against Middle Tennessee (3-5) at JQH Arena.
