Starting Five - Storylines
1) Missouri State has continued its tradition of strong defensive play. The Lady Bears currently own the eighth-best scoring defense in the nation at 53.0, while also ranking in the top 25 in 3-point defense (20th - .264) and field goal percentage defense (24th - .357). MSU's defensive average is on pace to rank second in school history.
2) Out of the 24 opponents that qualify, Missouri State has held 20 out of 24 opponents under their scoring average entering their games against the Lady Bears. Across all 24 games, MSU is holding opponents to an average of 15.2 points below their scoring average prior to facing the Lady Bears. Missouri State has held eight opponents to 20+ points below their scoring average prior to facing the Lady Bears, including Power Five opponents USC and Missouri.
3) With a win Sunday at Bradley, Missouri State has now logged five-straight 20-win seasons, including all three years under the leadership of Lady Bear head coach
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton. Currently, Missouri State is one of six schools whose men's and women's basketball teams each have 20 wins (Missouri State, Baylor, Gonzaga, Murray State, Toledo, Towson).
4) Since the season-ending injury to
Jasmine Franklin, Abi Jackson has stepped into a key role for the Lady Bears. Jackson leads Missouri State in conference play with 15.1 ppg and 7.2 rpg. Jackson has recorded double digit scoring performances in 12 of 14 games since stepping into the starting lineup consistently at the start of conference play and is 4th on the MSU single-season blocks list with 55 on the year.
5) Missouri State is 93-15 overall since Dec. 20, 2018, which is tied for seventh nationally in total wins since that date and seventh in win percentage (.861). Five teams ahead of the Lady Bears on the wins list have been ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll over that span.
The Opponents
Evansville is currently 8-17 on the season and 2-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Purple Aces are led by Je'Naiya Davis and Abby Feit, who average 16.3 and 15.1 ppg, respectively. As a team, Evansville averages 66.3 ppg and 34.5 rpg. The Purple Aces shoot .379 from the field and .274 from three-point range.
Indiana State sits at 10-15 overall and 5-9 in the MVC this season. The Sycamores are paced by Del'Janae Williams, who averages 13.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg. The Sycamores average 63.9 ppg and 34.8 rpg as a unit, while shooting .416 from the field and .299 from behind the arc.
Series Histories
Missouri State leads the all-time series against Evansville, 47-13. The Lady Bears have 25 victories in 27 matchups against the Purple Aces in Springfield. MSU has won the last nine contests against Evansville, including an 82-35 victory earlier this season on the road.
MSU holds the all-time series lead against Indiana State, 64-18. The Lady Bears are 33-6 in Springfield against the Sycamores and Missouri State has won the last 15 contests versus Indiana State. MSU won the matchup earlier this season, 62-58, in Terre Haute.
