SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State trailed Missouri Valley Conference favorite Wichita State by four points midway through the second half Friday evening, but the Shockers pulled away late for a 71-59 victory at JQH Arena.

Wichita State (12-3, 3-0 MVC) scored the game's first four points and led 20-12 eight minutes into the contest thanks to an 8-for-14 shooting start. The Lady Bears (4-10, 1-2) countered with a 9-0 run for a 21-20 lead, beginning with a layup and 3-pointer from NiJay Gaines, an Audrey Holt layup and two Kenzie Williams free throws at the 8:50 mark.

The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions with Tyonna Snow's layup putting MSU up 23-22 with 8:12 to play, but Missouri State's two brief leads held for a combined 48 seconds as the Shockers quickly regained the upper hand.

Hillary Chvatal hit a baseline jumper with 5:59 to play for a 26-all tie, but the Lady Bears hit just three free throws the rest of the half as the Shockers took a 37-29 lead into intermission.

Williams ended MSU's seven-minute field goal drought with a layup for a 37-31 deficit with 18:55 on the clock, but WSU and MVC Preseason Player of the Year Alex Harden again had the answer with a 3-pointer for a 45-34 advantage with 16:14 remaining. Harden finished with a game-high 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting.

The Shockers led 55-42 with 11:09 to play when the Lady Bears cut the gap to 57-53 over the next two-plus minutes with an 11-2 run. Williams converted a 3-point play and buried a trey from the left wing during the run, and freshman Aubrey Buckley's steal and layup had the Lady Bears within four points with 8:47 left in the game.

WSU was back ahead by double digits three minutes later after Jamillah Bonner's 3-pointer from the corner put the Shockers up 66-55 with 5:49 to play, and the visitors' lead remained at nine points or better for the remainder of the contest.

Williams scored 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting to lead MSU, while Gaines and Snow added 12 apiece. Gaines grabbed a game-high seven boards as MSU won the rebounding battle for the seventh consecutive game, 33-30.

The Lady Bears shot 45.5 percent (20-44) overall and 15-for-25 at the foul line, while the Shockers made 29 shots in 59 attempts and committed only eight turnovers compared to 16 for MSU.

Missouri State plays its first MVC road game of the season Friday at 7 p.m. at Loyola (2-12, 0-3).