BROOKINGS, S.D. – Missouri State’s women’s basketball team improved to 6-2 on the season with a 55-52 victory against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (3-6) on Monday night.
The Lady Bears jumped out to a quick five-point lead on Monday night after senior Abi Jackson scored on the opening possession and Brice Calip followed immediately with a three-pointer.
South Dakota State punched right back and went on a 7-0 run to take a two-point lead before both teams settled in and swapped baskets. The turning point of the first quarter for the Lady Bears was a five-point run by senior Jasmine Franklin in which she converted an and-1 opportunity to give momentum back to MSU.
Sydney Wilson followed up Franklin’s and-1 by stealing a Jackrabbit inbound pass and fighting for the layup to give Missouri State a four-point lead before SDSU made two free throws to make it a 17-15 game after one quarter.
Both teams continued to battle in the second quarter with the lead never exceeding six points. The Lady Bears once again showed their strength on the defensive end, holding the Jackrabbits scoreless for a span of over three minutes halfway through the quarter to bring the game back within one point.
After SDSU extended the lead to six, the Lady Bears got yet another spark beginning with Franklin, as she was fouled and sank both free throws. Paige Rocca then hit a wide open three-pointer with just :24 seconds remaining in the half to make it a 26-27 game in favor of the Jackrabbits.
South Dakota State took a 29-26 lead into the locker room after converting two free throws. Franklin led the Lady Bears with a game-high 11 points in the first half along with six rebounds and three blocks.
Coming out of the break, SDSU made two free throws to extend its lead to five before the Lady Bears and graduate transfer Mariah White went on an 8-0 run, seven of which came courtesy of White. White converted a crucial and-1 opportunity in the middle of the run to give the lead back to the Lady Bears.
After coming back to tie the game, SDSU made a three-point basket with :37 left in the quarter to take a two-point lead into the final period. White had 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and grabbed two steals in the third period to put the Lady Bears within striking distance of the Jackrabbits.
MSU started the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run to take a five-point lead on the road. Following a Jackrabbit layup, White had two steals which she turned into fast break buckets to give the Lady Bears their largest lead of the night at seven points.
SDSU had one final push to bring the game within three and had possession with eight seconds remaining, but the MSU defense was able to stand tall, get the stop and secure the victory.
White led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field to pair with four steals. Franklin turned in another double-digit scoring performance with 11 on the night on 50 percent shooting, in addition to blocking four shots and grabbing two steals. Wilson was the third Lady Bear in double-digits with 10 points, while also turning in six rebounds and four steals.
The Lady Bears return to Springfield for a six-game home stretch, beginning with a matchup against in-state rival Missouri on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
