VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State’s Brice Calip hit three free throws with 0.8 seconds on the clock Sunday to give the 25th-ranked Lady Bears a 74-73 victory over Valparaiso and extend their winning streak to seven consecutive games.
Calip’s foul shots capped a wild final 99 seconds that saw the lead change five times before Missouri State improved to 11-2 overall and 7-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play, the program’s fifth time winning its first seven league games and first since 2019.
MSU senior Elle Ruffridge buried a 3-pointer on her way to 17 points with 1:39 left in the contest for a 69-67 lead, and Valpo countered with its own triple 15 seconds later to take it back 70-69.
Calip hit two free throws with 30.5 seconds remaining for a 71-70 advantage, Valpo scored for 72-71 with 12.3 left, then rebounded MSU’s go-ahead layup attempt and sank the first of two free throws with 6.2 on the clock.
Valpo (6-8, 2-5) missed the second, MSU rebounded and got the ball to Calip in the front court, where she was fouled on a 3-point try with 0.8 seconds left. The senior calmly sank all three shots, finishing 9-for-9 at the line with a game-high 23 points and season-highs of seven assists (without a turnover) and five steals.
Missouri State led 16-10 after a quarter and 29-26 at half before both offenses got going after intermission. Valpo opened the third quarter on a 10-3 run to take the lead and scored 28 points in the period for a 54-46 advantage.
The Crusaders pushed the margin to 65-56 with 6:42 left and the Lady Bears countered with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to set the stage for the late-game heroics.
Jasmine Franklin tallied 11 points and 13 rebounds for her 19th career double-double, and Missouri State shot 41.9 percent compared to .411 for Valpo. The Crusaders made 11 3-pointers, including 7-of-11 in the second half, and finished with a 39-34 rebounding edge. Missouri State trailed for more than 14 minutes in the contest, more than in its first six MVC games combined.
Missouri State returns home to host Indiana State on Feb. 5 and 6.
