LINCOLN, Neb. – Missouri State women’s basketball (20-12) concluded its season here Wednesday night with a 74-65 loss at Nebraska (17-14).
Both squads got off to a hot start offensively in Lincoln with the game tied at 15-15 with 2:54 remaining in the first quarter, highlighted by Aniya Thomas and Paige Rocca combining for four threes, as Thomas collected nine early points. From there, the Cornhuskers reeled off seven points to end the quarter and lead 22-15 over the Lady Bears after one.
Missouri State responded quickly to open the second quarter as Kennedy Taylor the Lady Bears’ first six points to cut the deficit to three with 7:33 remaining in the first half. Nebraska extended their lead back to seven before the second quarter ended in a couple of big runs, one for each squad.
With 5:20 on the clock, Thomas kickstarted a nine-point surge for the Lady Bears that Sydney Wilson capped with a triple to give MSU a two-point, 32-30, lead. Unfortunately, Nebraska responded with an eight-point run over the final 2:27, including a buzzer-beater three from half court with no time left to lead 38-32 at the break.
Out of the half, Taylor converted an and-1 opportunity and Thomas knocked down a layup to pull Missouri State within two. Unfortunately, the turning point in the game was when Missouri State hit a cold spell in the field, not knocking down a field goal for 10 minutes with the drought extending into the fourth quarter.
After Nebraska extended the lead to 12 at the beginning of the final period, Rocca and Wilson connected on back-to-back treys to cut the deficit in half. MSU was able to cut the lead to five points on two occasions via a Wilson layup and Taylor jumper, but despite holding a one-point advantage overall in the fourth, the Lady Bears concluded their season with a 74-65 loss.
Taylor led the way for Missouri State with a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double. Thomas followed with 17 points and five assists, while Wilson was the final Lady Bear in double figures with 12 points and rebounds in the final game of their careers. Rocca collected eight points and eight rebounds and Jade Masogayo tallied six points and six boards.
Collectively, the Lady Bears knocked down seven threes and went 16-for-20 at the free throw line. MSU won the battle on the boards, 47-36, including pulling down 23 on the offensive glass.
This season, Missouri State secured its sixth consecutive 20-win season and made a postseason tournament for the eight-straight season.
