March 10, 2015
MVC Tournament Central
Game notes - Wichita State
Quarterfinal vs. Indiana State ( W, 75-57)
Semifinal vs. Evansville ( W, 75-66)
No. 3 Missouri State Lady Bears (18-13/13-5 MVC) vs. No. 1 Wichita State Shockers (28-4/17-1 MVC)
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2015
Tip: 2:07 p.m. (Central)
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Site: The Family Arena (10,000)
Radio: KTXR 101.3 FM
TV: ESPN3
Live Audio: RadioSpringfield.com
Live Video: ESPN3.com
Live Stats: MVCStats.com
The Missouri State Lady Bears (18-13, 13-5 MVC) play for their 10th Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title Sunday at 2:07 p.m. against top-seeded Wichita State (28-4, 17-1) at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
Sunday's title game features MSU's 10-game winning streak going against WSU's 11-game streak. The Shockers handed the Lady Bears their last loss, Feb. 8 in Wichita. Missouri State's winning streak is the team's longest since claiming 11 consecutive victories in 2012, and the Lady Bears are outscoring opponents by an average of 77.4-63.7 over the last five weeks.
In addition to the chance of winning the program's first MVC title and NCAA berth since 2006, Sunday could also be an historic day for a pair of individuals. Kellie Harper enters with 199 career coaching wins, and Tyonna Snow begins the day with 993 career points.
MSU Pep Rallies
Lady Bear fans are encouraged to gather at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel (900 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, Mo.) at 6:45 p.m. Friday to cheer the team on as it departs for The Family Arena to play Indiana State. Additional pep rallies will take place approximately two hours before tipoff as long as the Lady Bears remain in the tournament. Saturday's game would be at 4:00 p.m., with the championship slated for a 2 p.m. tip on Sunday.
Tournament Tough
The Lady Bears enter this year's MVC Tournament with a league-best 37-18 (.673) all-time mark in the event since the initial Gateway Conference meet in 1983. Since 1991, Missouri State has played in 13 of the 23 tournament championship games and is the only school to win the title four straight years (1991-94). Missouri State will be trying for its 10th tourney title, with wins in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006 to its credit.
Missouri State enters the tourney with all-time records of 2-4 in the opening round, 13-6 in the quarterfinals, 13-4 in the semifinals and 9-4 in championship games.
The Lady Bears are 10-10 in neutral-court games at the event and 4-7 since the tourney moved to St. Charles in 2008.
