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Des Moines, Iowa – Missouri State women's basketball improved to 12-3 (3-1 MVC) on the season with a 69-53 victory against Drake (9-8, 1-5 MVC) in Des Moines.
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Both teams got off to a great offensive start on Saturday, including seven different Lady Bears scoring in the opening quarter.
 
Senior Sydney Wilson and graduate transfer Mariah White scored early to give Missouri State a 6-2 lead out of the gate, before Drake went on a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead. After a Paige Rocca three-pointer to tie the game at nine, the Lady Bears responded with a 7-0 run of their own a couple of minutes later.
 
Abi Jackson kicked off the run with a jumper, followed by two Mya Bhinhar free throws and freshman Isabelle Delarue's first long range bucket of the game. Drake answered, but the Lady Bears were able to hold a narrow one-point lead after the first 10 minutes.
 
The Lady Bears picked up right where they left off with Rocca knocking down her second three-pointer of the game to open the second period. Drake was able to use a jumper and free throw to bring it back within one, but the Lady Bears answered immediately with back-to-back threes from Rocca and Wilson to make it 27-20 in favor of MSU.
 
Drake was able to pull back within three, before Brice Calip and Delarue went back-to-back from long range again for the Lady Bears to make it a nine-point lead. MSU then went on a 5-0 run, all of which came from the free throw line, to take a 38-27 lead into the locker room.
 
Missouri State made seven three-pointers in the first half, their second-most made three-point field goals in a game this season, while Rocca surpassed her career high in the opening 20 minutes with 12 points.
 
Coming out of the break, the Bulldogs came out strong as they converted a four-point play and proceeded to go on a 12-1 run to tie the game at 39.
 
Junior college transfer Ifunanya Nwachukwu scored consecutive baskets, before she and Wilson went on a 6-0 run to extend the lead back to nine points in favor of the Lady Bears. Calip scored on a layup with :31 left on the clock to give MSU a 51-43 lead headed into the final quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Bears were able to wear the Bulldogs down and hold Drake to just 10 points in the final 10 minutes. The game-sealer for MSU in the final period was the Lady Bears' ability to get to the free throw line, as they made 10 of their 12 attempts from the charity stripe to ultimately secure the 69-53 victory at the Knapp Center.
 
Rocca led the Lady Bears with a career high 13 points on 43 percent shooting from behind the arc, while Nwachukwu also logged a career high 10 points to pair with 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Sixth-year senior Calip also set a career high in rebounds with 13 boards against the Bulldogs.
 
The Lady Bears will be back at home to take on Bradley on Thursday, Jan. 20. First tip is set for 7:00 p.m. at JQH Arena.
 
Tickets for all home games are available at MissouriStateBears.com or through the Old Missouri Bank box office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular office hours.