MOLINE, Ill. — A layup at the buzzer by Drake’s Anna Miller spoiled a Missouri State comeback for the ages here Sunday as the top-seeded Bulldogs topped the Lady Bears, 76-75, in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game here Sunday afternoon.
Miller’s left-handed shot at the horn came on the heels of a MoState bucket by Lacy Stokes with 2.6 seconds remaining to give Missouri State its first lead of the game and cap a remarkable 19-4 fourth-quarter run.
Drake’s Berg scored a layup with 7:38 to go to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the game, 68-54, before Indya Green, Kennedy Taylor and Stokes led MSU’s charge. Paige Rocca’s triple with 42 seconds left brought MSU within one before Stokes’ jumper completed the resurgence.
The Lady Bears (23-9) showed resiliency all day, clawing back after two other big Drake (29-5) runs in the first and third quarters to set themselves up with the chance to win it in the fourth. After trailing by three at half time, the Bulldogs scored the first 11 points of the second half, nine coming courtesy of Miller to trail by 14. Once again, Missouri State stayed patient and a seven-point run from Green and Taylor cut it back to seven points.
With the game tied at 4-4 in the early going of the contest, Drake put together a 10-2 surge to push the lead to eight. The Bulldogs were then able to stretch the lead to 10 and 12 points before the end of the half, but a Kyrah Daniels triple with 0:19 made it a nine-point game headed to the second quarter.
Missouri State carried that momentum into the second period, going on a 9-2 run to start the quarter with seven consecutive points coming via Green. Green’s triple to cap the run pulled the Lady Bears within two points as Missouri State remained within striking distance throughout the remainder of the half, with MSU trailing 38-35 at the intermission.
Taylor finished with 22 points on 9-of-15 field goals to go with 11 rebounds off the bench with Stokes contributing 16 points, 7 assists and 6 steals. Green tallied 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Jade Masogayo also contributed 10 points for the Lady Bears.
The Lady Bears owned the rebounding battle, 33-25, including an 18-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Missouri State forced 19 Bulldog turnovers, turning those in to 27 points.
Green and Stokes were both named to the MVC All-Tournament Team.
Missouri State now awaits its postseason fate.
