SPRINGFIELD — Eight games against teams that advanced to the postseason last year, including all four contests at JQH Arena, highlight a challenging 2018-19 non-conference women’s basketball schedule announced Monday by sixth-year head coach Kellie Harper.
Missouri State’s home schedule includes 2018 NCAA Tournament participants Gonzaga and Little Rock, as well as WNIT first-round winners Ball State and South Dakota. The Lady Bears make visits to Missouri and reigning WNIT champion Indiana, have a neutral-site contest with Louisiana Tech in a rematch of last year’s WNIT first round MSU win, and even host 2018 Division II national champion Central Missouri in an exhibition contest.
“Our non-conference schedule is challenging and exciting this season,” Harper noted. “Not only do we have some tough road trips ahead of us, but we are bringing talented opponents to The Q. I am looking forward to what this season will bring for this team. I have high expectations for our program again this year.”
The Lady Bears return nine players from last season’s team that went 21-12 overall, finished second in the MVC at 15-3, and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Missouri State’s incoming freshman class for 2018-19 includes Mya Bhinhar (5-9, G, Owasso, Okla., Owasso High), Jasmine Franklin (6-1, F, Fayetteville, Ark., Fayetteville High), Dariauna Lewis (6-0, F, Omaha, Neb., North High), Sydney Manning (5-9, G, Edmond, Okla., Cashion High), and Sydney Wilson (5-11, G, Overland Park, Kan., Olathe East High).
The Missouri Valley Conference will release its schedule in the coming weeks.
Ticket information can be found online at www.MissouriStateBears.com/tickets.
Exhibitions
Oct. 29 vs. Central Missouri • 7 p.m. • JQH Arena
Nov. 4 vs. Lincoln • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
Nov. 10 at Wichita State • TBA • Wichita Kan.
WSU in 2017-18: The Shockers went 14-17 overall and tied for fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a 9-7 record
Series History: Missouri State leads, 50-36
Last Meeting: Lady Bears 94, Shockers 71, Dec. 7, 2017 at JQH Arena
Nov. 14 at Missouri • TBA • Columbia, Mo.
MU in 2017-18: The Tigers finished with a 24-8 record and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
Series History: Missouri leads, 20-10
Last Meeting: Tigers 69, Lady Bears 59, Nov. 19, 2017 at JQH Arena
Nov. 17 vs. Ball State • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
BSU in 2017-18: The Cardinals went to the second round of the WNIT and finished with a 25-7 record
Series History: Ball State leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Cardinals 70, Lady Bears 58, Nov. 13, 2017 at Muncie, Ind.
Nov. 24 vs. Santa Clara • TBA • Santa Clara, Calif.
SCU in 2017-18: Santa Clara was 9-21 overall and 5-13 in West Coast Conference play
Series History: First meeting
Dec. 1 at North Texas • TBA • Denton, Texas
UNT in 2017-18: The Mean Green posted a 17-14 overall mark and 6-10 record in Conference USA
Series History: Missouri State leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Lady Bears 63, Mean Green 54, Dec. 17, 2016 at JQH Arena
Dec. 4 vs. South Dakota • 7 p.m. • JQH Arena
USD in 2017-18: South Dakota advanced to the fourth round of the WNIT, finishing 29-7 overall and winning the Summit League regular season title
Series History: First meeting
Dec. 9 at Indiana • TBA • Bloomington, Ind.
IU in 2017-18: The Hoosiers won the WNIT and finished 23-14 on the season
Series History: Indiana leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Hoosiers 63, Lady Bears 60, Nov. 15, 1998 at Hammons Student Center
Dec. 16 vs. Gonzaga • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
GU in 2017-18: Gonzaga went 27-6 overall, won the West Coast Conference regular season title, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament
Series History: Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Bulldogs 80, Lady Bears 66, Nov. 20, 2012 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Dec. 20 vs. Louisiana Tech • TBA • Roo Holiday Classic in Kansas City, Mo.
LT in 2017-18: Louisiana Tech finished 19-12 after a first-round home loss to Missouri State in the WNIT
Series History: Missouri State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Lady Bears 63, Lady Techsters 59, March 15, 2018 at Ruston, La.
Dec. 21 vs. SIU Edwardsville • TBA • Roo Holiday Classic in Kansas City, Mo.
SIUE in 2017-18: The Cougars went 17-15 last season, tying for second in the Ohio Valley Conference and losing in the first round of the WBI
Series History: Missouri State leads, 6-0
Last Meeting: Lady Bears 75, Cougars 69, Dec. 6, 2014 at JQH Arena
Dec. 30 vs. Little Rock • 2 p.m. • JQH Arena
LR in 2017-18: Little Rock advanced to the NCAA Tournament, finishing 23-10 overall with a 17-1 record as Sun Belt champions
Series History: Missouri State leads, 11-3
Last Meeting: Trojans 63, Lady Bears 51, Dec. 4, 2017 at Little Rock, Ark.
