The Missouri State Lady Bears (13-10, 9-3 Missouri Valley Conference) return to the road this week with a pair of games in Illinois, visiting Bradley (9-15, 5-8) at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois State (6-18, 3-10) at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
   The Lady Bears have won five consecutive games and nine of their last 10, and look to avenge the one loss during that stretch Friday against BU.
   Missouri State has stepped up defensively during its ascent to the No. 3 spot in the conference standings, allowing an average of 53.8 points per game in the last 10, while no opponent has scored more than 66 points in regulation.
   MSU also carries several impressive road records into the weekend, with a 21-7 overall mark in the last 28 road games, 16-2 record in the last 18 MVC road contests, and 14-2 record in the last 16 games in Illinois.
Series Histories
Missouri State is 51-24 all-time against Bradley, with 20-13 mark in Peoria. Bradley ended MSU's seven-game winning streak in the series earlier this season in Springfield.
    Missouri State leads Illinois State 40-31 in the all-time series and has won 10 of the last 13 meetings. MSU trails 18-16 in Normal, but has won four of its last five trips to Redbird Arena.
Scouting Bradley
Bradley is 9-15 overall and 5-8 in MVC games. Three Braves average between 10.1 and 10.5 points per game, and senior Leti Lerma leads the MVC in rebounding at 10.6 per contest, including 12.0 in league games. Bradley averages 60.7 points per game and allows 67.2 while shooting 37.2 percent overall, 28 percent on 3-pointers and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
Scouting Illinois State
Illinois State is 6-18 overall and 3-10 in MVC play. Brechelle Beachum leads the Redbirds with 12 points per game and Taylor Stewart chips in 11.7 per contest. As a team, ISU scores 55.3 points per outing and allows 70.1 while shooting 33.9 percent overall, 27.2 percent from distance and 66.6 percent from the foul line.
First Meeting With Bradley
Missouri State's
Liza Fruendt hit a last-second 3-pointer to send the game to overtime, but Bradley continued the momentum it gained while overcoming a 12-point deficit for a 75-73 victory on Jan. 22 at JQH Arena.
   The Lady Bears led 48-36 with 14:15 left in the game, and the Braves chipped away before going on a late 8-0 run after
Aubrey Buckley's 3-point play made it 63-58 MSU with 3:33 left during a 19-point, 14-rebound effort for the junior.
   Fruendt's trey with 3.0 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime tied at 66-all, and Bradley shot 7-for-11 at the foul line in the extra frame for the win.
First Meeting With Illinois State
Despite not trailing during the final three quarters, Missouri State needed to hold off a hard-charging Illinois State squad in the final seconds of a 65-60 win on Jan. 20 in Springfield.
   MSU led 60-52 with less than three minutes to play before ISU's Taylor Stewart hit two of her school-record eight 3-pointers to help the Redbirds pull to 62-60 with 16.8 seconds left.
Lexi Hughes countered with a free throw and the Lady Bears forced a turnover in the final seconds to seal it. MSU owned a 46-37 rebounding margin, including 21 offensive boards.
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