Missouri State makes its final road trip of the regular season this weekend for a pair of games on the northeastern side of the Missouri Valley Conference footprint.
   The Lady Bears (14-10, 10-3 MVC) visit Loyola (5-18, 3-9) at 7 p.m. Friday and league newcomer Valparaiso (11-12, 4-8) at 3 p.m. Sunday in a game that will air on KOZL in Springfield and on MSU TV Network affiliates.
   Missouri State is 5-2 on the MVC road this season and is one win away from posting six road conference wins for a fourth consecutive season, helping the Lady Bears to a 22-7 record in their last 29 MVC road contests and 17-5 mark in their last 22 games in Illinois.
   The Lady Bears sit a game ahead of UNI in the Valley standings with three weekends to play, and own a season sweep of the Panther this year. Southern Illinois is 8-5 and in fourth place, and visits Springfield on Feb. 23.
Series Histories
Missouri State is 8-3 all-time against Loyola, including an 8-1 mark since Ramblers joined the MVC. The Lady Bears are 3-3 in Chicago, with a loss in the first league meeting in 2014 and two setbacks in the early 1980s.
    Missouri State's 83-60 win in Springfield on Jan. 19 is the only meeting between the Lady Bears and Valpo.
Scouting Loyola
Loyola is 5-18 overall and 3-9 in Valley games. Freshman Abby O'Connor leads the Ramblers in scoring (10.1) and rebounding (5.5), and LUC averages just 52.9 points per game compared to 67.5 for opponents. Loyola shoots 36.7 percent overall, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc and 71.9 percent at the foul line.
First Meeting with Loyola
After trailing 9-7 after 10 minutes, Missouri State shot 55 percent and out-scored the Ramblers by 41 points over the final three quarters in a 75-36 win on Jan. 21 in Springfield.
Liza Fruendt scored 29 points and buried five 3-pointers in
Kellie Harper's 250th career win. Missouri State led 49-29 on the boards, with
Emily Gartner grabbing nine caroms, and limited Loyola to 22 percent shooting.
Scouting Valpo
Valpo is 11-12 overall and 4-8 in MVC play. Dani Franklin leads the Crusaders in scoring at 15.2 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds per game, and Grace Hales leads the Valley at 49 percent shooting from long range. The Crusaders average 67.4 points per game and allow 68.6, shooting 39.2 percent overall, 33.9 percent from long range and 75.6 percent from the foul line.
First Meeting with Valpo
Seniors
Liza Fruendt and
Aubrey Buckley combined for 50 points, including nine each during a decisive 24-0 third-quarter run to lead MSU to an 83-60 victory on Jan. 19 in JQH Arena. The Lady Bears never trailed, but it was a 38-35 game early in the second half before the 24-0 run. Fruendt scored 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and MSU owned a 48-36 rebounding edge.
