SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State finished the non-conference portion of its schedule Monday evening with a 71-52 loss to visiting Middle Tennessee at JQH Arena. 

Aubrey Buckley had career highs of 17 points and four steals to go with eight rebounds, and Danielle Gitzen equaled her career high with six assists as the Lady Bears finished one of the nation's toughest non-league slates with a 4-7 record. Middle Tennessee improved to 4-5.

Missouri State held the Blue Raiders off the scoreboard for the first 3:06 the game before the visitors knocked down eight of their next 10 shots, including four 3-pointers, to take a 24-12 lead after one quarter. MT extended its run to 11-0 for a 29-12 advantage 56 seconds into the second period, and held the 17-point lead to halftime while growing it to as many as 22 points in the interim.

The Lady Bears got no closer than 17 points in the second half, and the final score was Middle Tennessee's smallest margin since extending the lead to 20 points for the first time with 6:59 remaining in the third period.

For Buckley, her career game included a 7-for-10 shooting night, and Missouri State matched a season high with 15 assists on its 20 made baskets. Freshman Alexa Willard reached double figures for the second time this season with 10 points. The Lady Bears also owned a 30-27 rebounding lead, but shot just 35.1 percent overall compared to 57.4 percent for the Blue Raiders.

The Lady Bears return to action Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. when they host UNI in the Missouri Valley Conference opener.