SPRINGFIELD - Five Missouri State players scored in double figures Sunday as the Lady Bears posted one of their top offensive efforts of the season in a 83-64 victory against Loyola University Chicago at JQH Arena.

Missouri State improved to 10-13 overall and 7-5 in Missouri Valley Conference play, while LUC dropped to 4-20 and 2-11 in league games.

After a slow shooting start, the Lady Bears made seven consecutive field goals, needing just 4:23 of game time to reel off a 21-4 run for a 27-14 lead with 8:26 to play in the first half. Liza Fruendt collected 10 of her 16 points during the run, and the Lady Bears led by 13 points with 1:54 to play before the Ramblers cut the halftime score to 38-29 after shooting 54 percent in the period.

Missouri State opened the second half on an 8-0 run to build its lead to 17 points, holding the Ramblers without a point for nearly five minutes after the break. Once Loyola's offense got going, the visitors out-scored the Lady Bears 18-6 over the ensuing six minutes to pull within 52-47 with 9:23 to play.

The Lady Bears pushed the lead back in double figures when Kenzie Williams buried a 3-pointer with 6:54 remaining for a 58-48 advantage, a shot that came on the heels of three MSU offensive boards and her seventh steal of the contest, the No. 8 single-game total in school history.

Lexi Hughes buried a triple 46 seconds later to put MSU ahead by double figures for good, and effectively sealed the game and a 4-for-5 shooting night from long range with a trey for a 74-59 lead with 2:45 to play.

Hillary Chvatal scored a career-high 16 points, tying Fruendt for team-high honors and leading five Lady Bears in double figures. Hughes added 14 points, and Williams and Tyonna Snow scored 12 apiece.

Chvatal and Williams each finished one rebound shy of a double-double as MSU won the rebounding battle, 42-34. Missouri State shot 40.9 percent from the game and 38.1 percent from distance, scoring 26 points off 18 Loyola turnovers and getting 39 points from the bench, including a career-high eight from Audrey Holt. The Lady Bears also finished 21-for-29 from the foul line. Loyola shot 34.4 percent in the second half and 42.9 percent in the game.

Missouri State heads to Illinois next week for games at Southern Illinois (15-9, 8-5) at 6 p.m. Friday and Illinois State (1-23, 1-12) at 2 p.m. Sunday.