Starting Five - Storylines for the Bradley Game
1) The Missouri State Lady Bears are continuing their tradition of dominance on the boards this season. MSU ranks 6th nationally and 1st in the Missouri Valley Conference with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game, while ranking 2nd in the conference and 22nd in the country in total rebound average with 42.6 per game. Missouri State also owns a +11.0 rebound margin, which is 1st in the conference and 6th nationally and is on pace to break the current school record of plus-10.8 set in 2020-21.
2) According to HerHoopsStats.com,
Jade Masogayo is currently the only freshman in NCAA Division I averaging at least 7.0 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 blocks per game and 1.5 assists per game this season. Masogayo ranks 50th nationally in blocks per game (1.6) and 54th in the country in total blocks (34), while also leading the Lady Bears with a .537 field goal percentage on the year.
3)
Kennedy Taylor earned her third MVC Newcomer of the Week honor after becoming the first NCAA Division I player this season to post 25+ points, 15+ rebounds and six or more rebounds in a game, which she accomplished on Feb. 4 against UIC. Taylor continues to lead the Valley and ranks 20th nationally with 3.9 offensive rebounds per game, while also owning three 20-point games, seven double-doubles and 13 double-digit scoring performances on the season.
4)
Aniya Thomas continues to do it all for the Lady Bears this season, as she leads the team with 14.0 points per game, 95 assists and 47 steals. She has logged nine games with 5+ assists this season and also leads the team with four 20-point outings on the year and has reached double figures 17 times in 21 games on the season.
5) Missouri State is 9-0 this season when holding opponents to 60 points or less and 9-0 when scoring 70+ points. They also own a 14-2 record when collecting more assists than their opponent, meanwhile that record falls to 0-5 when their opponent has more assists.
Series History
Missouri State leads the all-time series against Bradley, 63-25, while owning a 24-14 advantage on the road. MSU has won the last 12 contests in the series, including an 87-54 victory in Springfield earlier this season. In MSU's last game on the road versus Bradley, the Lady Bears took home a 72-56 win (2/20/22). The Braves' last win in the series came on Feb. 17, 2017 in Peoria.
The Opponent
Bradley has started the season 3-20 and owns an 0-12 MVC record. The Braves are led by reigning MVC Freshman of the Year, Caroline Waite, who averages 12.3 points and owns 53 threes on the season. Isis Fitch is BU's leading rebounder at 6.4/game, while Alex Rouse contributes 11.5 points/game and leads the team with 26 steals. As a team, Bradley averages 56.9 points and 32.6 boards/game, while owning a -16.3 scoring and -6.7 rebounding margin. They also shoot .373 from the field and .314 from three.
