The Missouri State Lady Bears (14-11, 10-4 Missouri Valley Conference) play their final home games of the regular season this week when Indiana State and Loyola visit JQH Arena.
   MSU takes on the Sycamores (12-13, 6-8) at 7 p.m. Friday and Loyola (2-23, 1-13) at 2 p.m. Sunday, needing one victory to clinch at least a third-place MVC finish before closing the year at Drake and UNI. The Lady Bears secured their 19th winning MVC record in 25 seasons with a 77-44 victory at Illinois State on Sunday.
   The Lady Bears have won 10 of their last 12 games, holding opponents to an average of 53.7 points per game over that span. The stretch of solid defense has lowered MSU's season defensive average to 61.8, the lowest since the 2003-04 team allowed 58.5 points per game.
   Sunday is Senior Day at JQH, with
Lexi Hughes,
Onye Osemenam and
Rachel Swartz being recognized in a pregame ceremony before they close out their home careers.
   Friday, trading cards featuring each of the MSU players and coaches will be given away while supplies last.
Series Histories
Missouri State holds a 56-18 series lead over the Sycamores, including a 29-6 mark in Springfield. MSU has won seven straight in the series 16 of the last 20 overall.
    Missouri State is 6-3 all-time against Loyola with a 3-0 mark in Springfield. The Lady Bears are 6-1 against the Ramblers since LUC joined the league.
Scouting Indiana State
Indiana State is 12-13 overall and tied for fifth in the MVC standings at 6-8. Ashley Taia paces the Sycamores at 12.4 points per game with 49 3-pointers, and newcomer Wendi Bibbins chips in 10 points and 8.3 boards. ISU averages 55.8 points per game and leads the MVC with a 56.8 defensive average and .348 field goal defense, and shoots 37 percent overall, 27.4 percent on 3-pointers and 64.8 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting Loyola
Loyola is 2-23 overall and 1-13 in MVC play while rebuilding under first-year head coach Kate Achter. Katie Salmon leads the Ramblers in scoring (8.8) and rebounding (6.1), and five LUC players average at least 6.9 points per game. As a team, Loyola scores 48 points per contest and allows 73 while shooting 34.3 percent overall, 30.5 percent from long range and 62.8 percent at the foul line.
First Meeting with Indiana State
Missouri State overcame a 10-point second-half deficit and out-scored Indiana State 16-5 in the fourth quarter in a 49-46 victory on Jan. 29 in Terre Haute.
   Indiana State led by 10 points late in the third quarter and 41-33 entering the final period before MSU took the lead for good with a 9-0 run ending at the 1:53 mark.
  Â
Audrey Holt finished with 12 points, six boards and four steals, and the Lady Bears owned a 17-7 rebounding edge in the fourth quarter and swiped a season-high 13 steals.
Liza Fruendt led all scorers with 18 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists, adding three steals to help MSU force 24 turnovers compared to 12 giveaways of its own.Â
First Meeting with Loyola
Missouri State posted its best defensive effort in 25 years in a 60-32 victory on Jan. 27 in Chicago. Loyola's 32 points were the fewest scored by a Missouri State opponent since the Lady Bears earned an 80-32 victory against Eastern Illinois on Jan. 2, 1992.
   The Lady Bears bolted to a 14-0 lead at the first media timeout and led 23-2 with 2:31 left in the first quarter.Â
   Missouri State led by as many as 29 points and shot 46 percent for the game while owning a 42-25 rebounding edge. MSU held the Ramblers to 10-for-42 from the floor and forced 19 turnovers.
  Â
Aubrey Buckley became the first MSU player in 12 years to make at least six shots without a miss, going 6-for-6 from the floor with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Liza Fruendt scored 13 points and canned three 3-pointers.
