SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women’s basketball earned its first victory of the season with a 71-55 win over Saint Louis here Tuesday night.
Sophomore Isabelle Delarue’s career-high 18 points and a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double from sophomore Indya Green set the tone for the Lady Bears on the night.
Meanwhile, head coach Beth Cunningham secured her first victory at the helm of the Lady Bear program and fifth-year senior Sydney Wilson recorded her 100th career victory to take sole possession of fifth place in program history, surpassing Secelia Winkfield (1990-93).
MSU didn’t waste any time on the offensive side of the ball tonight, beginning the game with eight consecutive points, six coming courtesy of back-to-back treys from Delarue. Following three baskets from SLU’s Kyla McMakin to bring the Billikens back within four, the Lady Bears once again found an offensive surge, scoring the final 10 points of the quarter to lead 20-6 after the first period.
In the second quarter, both squads settled in and swapped baskets, but Missouri State was able to keep the Billikens at bay and hold its double-digit lead throughout the second period. Fifth-year senior Aniya Thomas led the way for the Lady Bears in the second frame with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Delarue’s third triple of the night came with 0:50 remaining in the first half to give MSU a 16-point, 39-23, advantage at the break.
Delaure had a game-high 12 points in the first half, while Green hauled in a game-high eight first-half rebounds. As a squad, the Lady Bears scored 24 points in the paint in the first half and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.
Saint Louis wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, outscoring MSU 19-12 in the third quarter to cut the Lady Bear lead to nine with a quarter to play. Delarue’s fourth triple of the night gave Missouri State a 17-point lead before the Billikens reeled off a 10-2 run to cut the home team’s lead to nine points.
The Billikens scored the first point of the final quarter to cut the MSU lead to eight, but the Lady Bears took control right back as Green and Thomas connected on layups and Sydney Wilson sank two free throws to make up a 6-0 run. Delarue’s fifth three-pointer of the night put MSU ahead by 17 near the halfway mark of the final quarter and a short time later, another six consecutive points from the Lady Bears gave them their largest lead of the night at 20 points and secured their first victory of the season.
Delarue’s 18 points were a career- and game-high and she became the first Lady Bear since Elle Ruffridge (3/24/21) to knock down five three-pointers in a game, while Green’s double-double was the first for MSU since March 11, 2022 (Wilson and Brice Calip). Thomas had a 14-point, seven-rebound performance to put her just two points shy of 1,000 for her career.
Missouri State dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Billikens 52-26 overall and 24-16 on the offensive glass. The Lady Bears used that advantage to score 38 points in the paint, while never surrendering their lead in the game.
The Lady Bears will be back in action on Thursday, November 17 when they face Oklahoma State at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. First tip is set for 6 p.m.
