SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State women's basketball team will make its 2017-18 debut Sunday (Nov. 5) at 2 p.m. against Lindenwood in the season's lone exhibition contest at JQH Arena.

The Lady Bears were picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference race last week, and have finished in the top three in the MVC standings and advanced to postseason play each of the last three seasons. Senior guard Liza Fruendt is the league's preseason player of the year, and leads a group of four returning starters and a roster that returns 80 percent of its scoring and 79 percent of rebounding output from last season.

Lindenwood is picked seventh in MIAA this year and returns the bulk of its 2016-17 roster as well, led by 2017 MIAA Freshman of the Year Kallie Bildner, who averaged 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds last season. Lindenwood head coach Tony Francis is in his eighth season at the helm of the Lions.

Missouri State has never played Lindenwood in either exhibition or regular-season action.

MSU begins the regular season Nov. 13 at Ball State at 6 p.m.

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