The Missouri State Lady Bears return to JQH Arena after a 17-day break to face South Dakota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
   Missouri State has won nine straight home games and is 17-2 in its last 19 games at The Q, averaging 74.3 points with a plus-17.5 scoring margin over that span.
   Despite a 1-4 record, the Lady Bears own a positive scoring margin for the year, with all four losses coming by seven points or less (two in overtime), and have won the rebounding battle in all five games this season.
   The Lady Bears face two of the last three WNIT champions this week, with a visit to 2018 champ Indiana on Sunday in addition to the 2016 winners in USD on Tuesday.
   Following Sunday's contest, MSU will have a week off before hosting 24th-ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 16 to begin a stretch of seven consecutive games in the state of Missouri.
Series History
Missouri State and South Dakota have never played in women's basketball. The Lady Bears are 33-22 against current Summit League membership, with the majority of those games coming against Western Illinois (20-5) and Oral Roberts (9-10).
Scouting South Dakota
South Dakota is 7-1 on the year and ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA RPI. USD's only loss came at Drake, and the Coyotes also have notable wins over Creighton, No. 23 Iowa State and Green Bay. South Dakota is the defending Summit League champion, and returns three starters from last year's 29-7 team. Six USD players average at least 7.3 points per game, and the Coyotes average 75.6 points compared to 56.1 for opponents. South Dakota shoots 43.1 percent overall, 33.5 percent from long range and 79 percent at the foul line while owning a plus-7.6 rebounding margin.
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