Starting Five - Storylines for the Weekend
1) The No. 18/23 Missouri State Lady Bears (21-3, 11-1 MVC) are at JQH Arena for two of the final three regular season weekends, beginning with games against Evansville (3-21, 0-13) at 7 p.m. Friday and Indiana State (4-21, 2-11) at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Lady Bears are 45-6 overall since Dec. 20, 2018, ranking fifth nationally in total wins since that date.
2) Missouri State has shot 40 percent or better 21 times and scored at least 68 points in 22 games this season. Through Feb. 18, MSU ranks 15th nationally in scoring offense (78.3), 3rd in 3-point percentage (.394), 17th in field goal percentage (.455) and 20th in foul shooting (.763). MSU's scoring average ranks third-best in school history behind the Final Four clubs of 1992 and 2001.
3) MSU has won the rebounding battle in 21 of 24 games this season and owns a plus-9.2 margin on the glass this year, on pace for second in school history. The Lady Bears lead the nation in defensive rebounding rate at .770, and rank 14th in rebound margin.
4) The Lady Bears are off to their best 24-game start since the 2003-04 team opened 22-2, and best home start at 11-0 since that same club finished 17-0 in Springfield. Missouri State's 10 wins prior to MVC play were the most in school history.
5) Missouri State's 11-game home win streak ties the JQH Arena record set during the 2011-12 season, and is the 10th time in program history that the Lady Bears have won at least 11 consecutive home games. This season, MSU is averaging 82.3 points at The Q, allowing 59.9, and owns a plus-12.3 rebound margin.
Series Histories
Missouri State owns a 43-13 series lead against Evansville with a 23-2 home record. The Lady Bears have won 11 of the last 12 against the Purple Aces, including the last five meetings.
    The Lady Bears are 62-18 all-time against Indiana State, their most wins against any opponent, and have won 13 in a row in the series. MSU is 32-6 in Springfield.
Scouting Evansville
Evansville is 3-21 overall and 0-13 in MVC play. Freshman Abby Feit leads the Purple Aces with
13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and Jada Poland adds 8.8 points and 5.1 boards. As a
team, UE scores 58.5 points per game and allows 73.7, shooting 37.2 percent overall, 28.1 percent on 3-pointers and 63.4 percent at the foul line with a minus-10.0 rebound margin.
Scouting Indiana State
Indiana State is 4-21 overall and 2-11 in league play with an entirely new roster from a season ago. Seven different Sycamores average between 6.6 and 10.9 points per game, and ISU scores 60.4 points per contest. The Sycamores allow 71.4 points on average and shoot 38.4 percent overall,
28.5 percent on 3-pointers and 61.2 percent at the foul line with a minus-1.9 rebound margin.
First Meeting With Evansville
Missouri State pulled away over the final 17 minutes for an 81-55 victory in Evansville on Jan. 26. The Lady Bears collected 15 steals off 22 Evansville turnovers – season highs in both categories – and owned a 38-21 rebounding edge.
   MSU turned a 39-33 lead into a 56-37 advantage over a six-minute stretch in the third quarter and shot 46.2 percent in the game.
Jasmine Franklin led the way with 17 points, nine rebounds and three steals,
Brice Calip scored 15 and
Alexa Willard added 13.
First Meeting With Indiana State
Missouri State led by 20 points after 13 minutes and coasted to a 76-55 victory on Jan. 24 in Terre Haute. The Lady Bears hit 10 3-pointers, with four from
Elle Ruffridge and three from
Alexa Willard on the way to a game-high 23 points. MSU led 30-10 early in the second quarter and kept the margin at 13 or more for the rest of the game. The Lady Bears shot 49.2 percent overall and held the Sycamores to 37.5 shooting with 21 turnovers.
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