The Missouri State Lady Bears continue their rugged schedule Sunday, visiting reigning WNIT champion Indiana for an 11 a.m. (Central) game on Big Ten Network.
   The Lady Bears (1-5) are in game two of a three-game stretch against teams all ranked 35th or higher in the NCAA RPI with a combined 24-2 record, including an 11-point loss to South Dakota (8-1) on Tuesday, Sunday's game at 8-0 Indiana, and hosting 24th-ranked Gonzaga (8-1) on Dec. 16. In fact, entering the IU game, MSU's first eight non-conference opponents boast a combined 46-19 record through Dec. 5.
   Sunday's game will be the fifth in school history against a defending WNIT champion. MSU lost the 2012-13 season opener to 2012 champion Oklahoma State, lost to Arkansas following the Razorbacks' 1998 title, and went 2-0 against Creighton the year after the Bluejays won in 2004. The Lady Bears won the 2005 WNIT that same year. MSU is also 3-1 against teams that won the WNIT that same season.
   Following Sunday's contest, Missouri State will play its next seven games in the state of Missouri.
Series History
Missouri State is 0-1 against Indiana, losing 63-60 in a preseason WNIT game in Springfield in November 1998. The Lady Bears won their last game against a Big Ten opponent, beating Northwestern, 90-59, last season in Springfield.
Scouting Indiana
Indiana is 8-0 on the season, receiving votes in both major top 25 polls and rated 34th in the latest NCAA RPI a year after claiming the WNIT championship. Four Hoosiers average at least 10 points per game, and IU scores 74.5 points as a team compared to 58.9 for opponents. Indiana shoots 46.1 percent overall, 33.3 percent on 3-pointers and 74.4 percent at the foul line with a plus-7.9 rebounding margin.
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