SPRINGFIELD – Former Missouri State Lady Bear Alexa Willard will continue her basketball career professionally after signing a contract to join Esperides, located in Kallithea, Athens, Greece.

Willard was an All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team pick as a senior for the MVC championship Lady Bears team that finished with a No. 19 national ranking. Her 483 points in 2019-20 ranked 25th on MSU's single-season scoring list. The sharp shooter became the first player in school history with a 45/40/90 season (.468 FG percentage, .430 3-point percentage and .906 free throw percentage).
 
The native of Lebanon, Mo., started all 129 games of her career, ranking third in games played and setting the school record for consecutive starts. She ranked fifth nationally in free throw accuracy with the second-best season percentage in school history as a senior, scoring in double figures 27 times with eight 20-point games. She finished her career ranked 12th in school history with 1,517 points, second in free throw percentage (.864) and 12th in 3-point accuracy (.370).
 
Willard also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District and MVC Scholar-Athlete first team honors in 2020.

The Greek League season traditionally begins in October.