The Missouri State Lady Bears erased a 10-point halftime deficit and went on to a 70-60 win over the Creighton Bluejays to end an eight-game losing streak in Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball action Friday evening at Hammons Student Center.
After connecting on just 10-of-28 field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes of the contest, the Lady Bears shot 60.7 percent from the field in the second half to fight their way back from a 35-25 halftime deficit and earn their seventh victory of the season. Tahnee Balerio handed out a career-high 12 assists and teamed up with sophomore forward Breton Wyett to score 30 of Missouri State’s 45 second-half points, including 25 during a decisive 40-18 scoring run that turned a 12-point Creighton advantage into a double-digit lead for the Lady Bears.
The Bluejays jumped out to an early 10-point lead, as Tyrai Bronson and Ally Thrall connected on back-to-back three pointers just six minutes into the game. But Missouri State responded with a 7-0 scoring run, keyed by a Melissa Busby putback on an offensive rebound to draw to within 13-10.
Creighton was able to build its lead back to 10 points by the end of the period behind the one-two punch of Thrall and Sara Cain. The junior duo combined to go 7-of-10 from the field to total 20 of the Bluejays’ 35 points in the half. Thrall finished the half 2-of-3 from three-point range, but it was freshman Sam Schuett who drained a trey from the top of the key to push the CU lead to 35-25 with just six seconds left on the clock.
The outcome looked even bleaker when Megan Neuvirth scored just 11 seconds into the second stanza to make it a 12-point game. But Ashley Lord buried a turnaround jumper and Roxy Stiles followed with a three-pointer from the right wing to slice the lead to 37-30, and the Lady Bears outscored the Bluejays 9-2 over the ensuing four minutes to even the score on Balerio’s 18-foot jumper with 14:50 to play.
The lead changed hands five times over the next two minutes before Tiff Terwelp put MSU ahead for good on a short jumper with 12:49 left on the clock. Creighton managed to stay within striking distance until Balerio sank a three-pointer to extend the Missouri State lead to 56-51 at the 7:44 mark.
Creighton’s Chevelle Herring scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, including a basket with 6:41 left on the clock to cut the Lady Bear lead to 57-55. But Wyett scored Missouri State’s next six points in a 1:20 span, and Balerio’s three-point play with 2:30 left in the game gave MSU an 11-point cushion that Creighton would not be able to penetrate down the stretch.
Balerio finished with 19 points and tallied 10 of her assists in the second half, while Wyett totaled 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
With the victory Missouri State improved to 3-12 in MVC play and 7-17 overall, while Creighton fell to 7-8 in conference play and 10-16 on the season.
The Lady Bears will conclude their two-game homestand Sunday, Feb. 25, when they face off against the Drake Bulldogs at 2:05 p.m. at Hammons Student Center.
