A key fourth-quarter stretch that saw MSU go scoreless for nearly five minutes as Illinois State (8-5, 2-1 MVC) scored 10 consecutive points to extend its lead to six was the difference in the game. Once the visitors grabbed the lead in the fourth during that run, they never relinquished it and handed the Lady Bears their first loss in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Despite being plagued by cold shooting in the fourth quarter (5-for-21) and at the free throw line for the game (4-for-14), the Lady Bears battled the entire 40 minutes, knocking down a couple of big three-pointers courtesy of Paige Rocca and Isabelle Delarue to keep Missouri State within a basket late in the game before being forced to foul on the other end.
Missouri State held the lead throughout most of the contest despite a 7-0 run by the Redbirds just minutes into the game to go up 7-2 on the Lady Bears. From there, MSU answered with a nine-point spurt of their own, bookended by a Sydney Wilson layup and three-pointer, to take over the lead and extend it to four points.
The Lady Bears would hold on to the lead until the fourth quarter, except for one moment when the game was tied at 13 points each in the first period. The second period saw MSU hold its largest lead at nine points, following an Aniya Thomas triple to cap a 7-0 run. Kennedy Taylor and Rocca connected on back-to-back baskets at the end of the first half to give MSU an eight-point, 35-27, advantage headed into the break.
Illinois State responded out of the half by outscoring MSU, 18-13, in the third. The Redbirds used separate five-point and four-point surges over the final 3:17 of the third period to cut Missouri State’s lead to three heading into the final 10 minutes in Springfield.
Missouri State had some magical moments as they connected on buzzer-beaters in each of the first three quarters, including a Thomas three to end the first, Rocca’s trey from deep to put MSU up eight at the half and Taylor’s put-back to end the third. Unfortunately, the opportunity to make it 4-for-4 at the buzzer did not present itself to the Lady Bears when it mattered most as MSU fell to the Redbirds, 67-63.
Taylor led the way for the Lady Bears with her third double-double of the season as she posted 18 points and 14 rebounds. Indya Green also recorded a double-double, her team-leading fourth of the season, with a 12-point, 13-rebound performance. Wilson tallied her sixth consecutive double-digit scoring effort as she had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists on the night.
As a team, Missouri State once again dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Redbirds 50-32. The Lady Bears also recorded 14 assists on 26 made baskets and tied their season-high for three-pointers made with seven triples on the night.
Missouri State will be back in action at Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, January 7. Tipoff against Bradley is set for 1 p.m. in Springfield.
