Starting Five - Storylines for the Weekend
1) The No. 21/24 Missouri State Lady Bears (16-3, 6-1 MVC) wrap up their first trip through the Valley schedule this weekend with home games against Bradley (16-2, 7-0) at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois State (12-6, 4-3) at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Lady Bears are 40-6 overall since Dec. 20, 2018, ranking seventh nationally in total wins since that date.
2) The Lady Bears have shot 40 percent or better 17 times and scored at least 68 points in 18 of 19 games this season. Through Jan. 28, MSU ranks 21st nationally in scoring offense (76.8), 11th in 3-point percentage (.382), 27th in field goal percentage (.451) and 37th in foul shooting (.751).
3) Missouri State has won the rebounding battle in 17 of 19 games this season and owns a plus-9.2 margin on the glass this year after ranking second in school history at plus-8.3 last season. The Lady Bears rank second nationally in defensive rebounding rate at .765, and 15th in rebound margin.
4) The Lady Bears are off to their best start since the 2003-04 team opened 20-1, and best home start at 8-0 since that same club finished 17-0 in Springfield. Missouri State's 10 wins prior to MVC play are the most in school history.
5) Missouri State has held five consecutive opponents under their season scoring average. Additionally, MSU opponents have scored below the average they brought into the game in eight of nine and 13 of the last 15 contests, the two exceptions beating their usual offensive output by a combined 2.3 points.
Radio Milestone
Friday's game will be the first at home since the 1,000th Lady Bear radio broadcast took place Jan. 17 at SIU. To commemorate the occasion, former MSU play-by-play announcers Matt Coatney, Bob Ehle, Rob Evans and Don West will join Tom Ladd on the broadcast, and a postgame reception with the five voices of the Lady Bears will take place in the Prime Overtime Club.
Series Histories
The Lady Bears lead Bradley 56-25 in the all-time series with five consecutive wins. MSU is 32-10 against the Braves in Springfield, winning six of the last seven meetings at JQH.
    Missouri State owns a 44-32 series lead over Illinois State with a 24-13 record in Springfield. MSU had won nine in a row in the series prior to last year's ISU win at JQH Arena, which also ended a 13-game overall win streak for the Lady Bears.
Scouting Bradley
Bradley is off to its best overall (16-2) and MVC (7-0) starts in school history, and received three votes in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll. Lasha Petree averages 17.3 points with 47 treys and 32 blocked shots, Gabi Haack adds 14.3 points, 6.8 boards and 48 triples, and Chelsea Brackmann chips in 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Braves, who were 54th in the Jan. 29 RPI ratings. As a team, BU scores 73.3 points and allows an MVC-low 59.9, and shoots 43.4 percent overall, 34.9 percent on 3-pointers and 74.2 at the foul line with a plus-5.4 rebound margin.
Scouting Illinois State
Illinois State is 12-6 overall and 4-3 in MVC play. TeTe Maggett leads the Redbirds win scoring (16.9) and assists (4.3) while adding 6.1 rebounds per game, and Lexi Wallen averages 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 59 percent for a solid 1-2 punch. ISU scores 69.8 points per game and allows 62.0, shooting 43.7 percent overall, 34.1 percent on 3-pointers and 71.3 percent at the foul line with a plus-5.4 rebound margin.
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