SPRINGFIELD -
Hillary Chvatal notched her second career double-double and
Kenzie Williams scored 20 points as the Missouri State Lady Bears (2-8) fell to Sun Belt Conference favorite Arkansas State (5-4) by a 78-62 final Friday evening at JQH Arena.
The visiting Red Wolves shot 65.4 percent in the second half and 59.6 percent in the game to overcome MSU's 36-24 advantage on the glass, and scored 35 points off 23 MSU turnovers.
The game featured 20-point swings for both sides, with the Lady Bears using a 27-7 run over 10 minutes to lead 41-31 early in the second half, and ASU out-scoring Missouri State by 26 over the final 18:23.
The Lady Bears trailed 24-14 with 8:37 remaining in the first half when four players scored during a 9-0 run to pull the home team within 24-23 with 6:10 to play. Chvatal's free throw with 1:51 to play put MSU ahead 30-29, and the junior added a layup just over a minute later for a 34-31 lead before Williams drained a 3-pointer from the right corner shortly ahead of the buzzer for the 37-31 halftime advantage.
Missouri State extended its run to 11-0 early in the second half on layups by Williams and
Tyonna Snow to lead 41-31 with 18:23 on the clock, but suffered through a six-minute scoreless drought while the Red Wolves regained a 44-41 lead with 12:29 remaining thanks to a 13-0 run.
Chvatal scored with 11:05 left for a 47-45 lead, but Arkansas State ripped off a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to grab the lead for good. The Lady Bears closed within 54-51 with 7:32 to play, but back-to-back jumpers from Sun Belt preseason player of the year Aundrea Gamble put ASU ahead 65-54 with 3:21 on the clock.
From there, the Red Wolves made all eight of their free throws after a 3-for-14 start at the line, keeping the Lady Bears' comeback hopes in check.
Missouri State finished the game 21-for-53 from the floor and 18-for-21 at the free throw line, led by a 7-for-7 effort from Williams. Chvatal added 13 points and 12 points - including eight on the offensive end - while Snow scored 10.
Next up for Missouri State is a Dec. 30 showdown against Missouri in the Sprint Center in Kansas City. Tip time is set for 4:05 p.m., and the game will be televised in Springfield on KOZL.
