Starting Five - Storylines for the MVC Tournament Championship
1) The Lady Bears (22-9, 16-2 MVC) finished second in the league standings and are 21-2 since a Dec. 16 loss to Gonzaga. This is the sixth MSU team to go 16-2 or better in the MVC, and first since 2004. Missouri State has 19 wins over top-25 opponents in its history, but none since No. 5 Duke in the 2001 Sweet 16.
2) The Lady Bears are 23-2 in their last 25 Valley games and 31-5 in league play the last two seasons. MSU's average score in league contests the last two seasons is 73.7-59.1. In league games this season, MSU led the MVC in scoring defense (58.4), rebound margin (+10.9), offensive rebounds (14.6) and turnover margin (+4.67). The MSU defense has been at its best in the first half, allowing an average of 27 points in the opening 20 minutes of Valley contests.
3) After posting their first ever 9-0 record in MVC road games, the Lady Bears are now 33-7 in their last 40 MVC road games. MSU's current 11-game MVC road win streak is a school record. Including a pair of neutral site games in Kansas City before Christmas and the MVC Tournament, the Lady Bears have won 13 straight games away from Springfield, last losing Dec. 9 at Indiana. MSU is also 6-0 in Illinois this season and 26-7 in the state under
Kellie Harper.
4) The Lady Bears have won the rebounding battle 27 times in 31 games this year, and rank in the top 30 nationally in rebound margin (+9.1) and both offensive (.381) and defensive (.750) rebound percentage. MSU's rebound margin is the second-best in school history, behind only the 1975 club at plus-9.9.
5) Missouri State has made more free throws than the opposition in 21 of the last 22 games, and made 252 foul shots in Valley games compared to 211 total attempts for opponents.
Tournament Tough
Missouri State is the No. 2 seed for the fifth time overall and second consecutive year. The Lady Bears went 8-0 in the regular season against their side of the bracket, and defeated each MVC team at least once this season. MSU is 45-21 all-time at the event, with 10 titles coming in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2016. The Lady Bears have played in 14 of 27 MVC title games 16 of 34 since the initial Gateway Tournament in 1983. Missouri State owns all-time records of 2-3 in the opening round, 17-8 in the quarterfinals, 16-5 in the semifinals and 10-5 in championship games. The Lady Bears are 6-2 in Moline.
Series History
Drake owns a slim 44-42 series lead, winning four in a row before MSU's Feb. 1 victory. Missouri State is 2-3 against Drake in championship games, losing in 1995, 1998 and 2000, and winning in 2001 and 2004. All five games were in Springfield, Mo.
Scouting Drake
Drake is 27-5 overall and 17-1 in MVC play, rated 21st in both major polls and 17th in the NCAA RPI. The Bulldogs are 61-1 in their last 62 games against MVC competition. Becca Hittner (19.9) and Sara Rhine (18.4) rank 1-2 in the league in scoring, and Rhine averages 8.4 rebounds with a league-best .607 field goal percentage. As a team, the Bulldogs score 80.7 points per game and rank among the nation's leaders with 21.4 assists, while allowing 65.5 points and shooting 47.9 percent overall, 35.7 percent on 3-pointers and 75.6 percent at the foul line with a plus-5.9 rebound margin.
This Season Against Drake
Missouri State won 85-79 on Feb. 1 in Des Moines, and Drake won 70-61 on March 3 in Springfield.
In Des Moines, the Lady Bears rallied from a 10-point deficit after three quarters, going on a 9-0 run in 90 seconds to begin the fourth quarter, and leading 77-70 with two minutes left before making enough free throws to seal the win.
Danielle Gitzen had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and MSU owned a 52-41 rebounding edge.
In Springfield, Drake jumped ahead 10-2 after three minutes, and led by 21 points early in the second half before the Lady Bears cut the margin to 63-59 late in the game.
Brice Calip scored 17 points, MSU went 1-for-17 from 3-point range, and Drake won the battle on the boards, 38-36.
