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SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State women's basketball team will make its 2016-17 debut Tuesday (Nov. 1) at 7:05 p.m. against Truman State in the first of two exhibition contests scheduled this season at JQH Arena. The Lady Bears also host Northeastern State on Nov. 6 at 2:05 p.m. in their final tune-up before regular-season play begins Nov. 11 at Memphis.

The Lady Bears were picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference race last week after finishing 24-10 last season advancing to the 14th NCAA Tournament in school history following an MVC Tournament title. Missouri State returns eight players from that squad, including three that started at least 11 games, for head coach Kellie Harper's fourth season in Springfield.

Truman State is picked to finish third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) West Division this season after going 20-10 last season with a defense that held opponents to 55.3 points per game. The Bulldogs return three starters and nine letterwinners from that club.

Northeastern State is the preseason choice to finish 11th in the 14-team Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The Riverhawks are led by 18th-year head coach Randy Gipson, who enters the year with 599 career wins as a collegiate coach, and finished 8-21 last season with 5-17 conference mark.

Missouri State has played exhibition contests against both Truman State and NSU in recent years, defeating TSU in 2012 by an 87-62 final, and topping NSU prior to the 2011-12 season, 71-39.

For season ticket information, please contact Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899. Single-game tickets are on sale now at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets, by phone at (417) 836-7678 or in person at the Old Missouri Bank ticket windows at JQH Arena.