Missouri State Lady Bears (7-3, 1-0 MVC) vs. Valparaiso Beacons (1-9, 0-1 MVC)
Date and Time	Thursday, January 4 | 6:30 p.m.
Location	Great Southern Bank Arena | Springfield, Mo.
Tickets	Tickets
TV	ESPN+ (Mike McClure, Carly Stubblefield) | Watch
Radio	KWTO 93.3 FM (Tom Ladd, Lynne Miller) | Listen Live | Varsity Network
Live Stats	Live Stats
Promotions	Educator Appreciation Night ($5 tickets in all non-assessed seating areas for area teachers and professors) | 2023-24 Promo Calendar
Missouri State	Game Notes | Women's Basketball Home Page
Valparaiso	Women's Basketball Home Page
Bears Mobile App	App Store (Apple Devices) | Google Play Store (Android Devices)
Up Next	Saturday, January 6 vs. UIC | 1 p.m. | Tickets

Accessibility
Missouri State University is committed to providing an accessible and supportive environment for those with disabilities. To request reasonable disability accommodations, contact the Deputy Compliance Officer at (417) 836-6755 or DeputyComplianceOfficer@MissouriState.edu. 

The Lady Bear Necessities 

• Missouri State women's basketball continues its six-game home stand as the Lady Bears welcome MVC opponent Valparaiso for a Thursday night (6:30 p.m.) matchup in Springfield. MSU is 10-1 all-time and 4-0 at home against the Beacons in the history of the series. 
• MSU is currently riding an eight-game home win streak dating back to last season with the Lady Bears' last home loss coming on Feb. 19, 2023 against Belmont. The Lady Bears are 17-4 at home in the Beth Cunningham era, and have won 14 of their last 15 games at Great Southern Bank Arena. 
• In their last outing, the Lady Bears opened the MVC slate with a 54-52 victory over preseason favorite Northern Iowa. Lacy Stokes (Jr., Mount Vernon, Mo.) hit the game-winner as time expired to propel MSU to its fourth consecutive victory. Kennedy Taylor (Jr., Shawnee Mission, Kan.) logged her 2nd double-double of the season and 13th of her career with 13 points and 13 rebounds against the Panthers.
• Missouri State has won its last three games (vs. UNI, vs. WKU, vs. BYU) by a combined four points. The Lady Bears have come up clutch in close games this season - owning a 4-0 record in games decided by five points or less.
• In the Beth Cunningham era, the Lady Bears are 17-1 when scoring 70+ points. Under Cunningham, Missouri State is 20-0 when allowing 65 points or less and 26-3 when holding opponents to 70 points or less. 
• Missouri State ranks inside the Top 100 nationally in free throw attempts per game (64th - 19.9), winning percentage (91st - .700) and rebound margin (96th - 4.6). 
• The Lady Bears were picked 5th in this year's MVC Preseason Poll. MSU has won 12 or more MVC games in eight consecutive years and has posted 22 top-three finishes in 31 league seasons. Missouri State is 394-163 all-time in MVC play. 
• MSU has won the rebounding battle 135 times in the last 166 contests, going 115-20 when winning on the glass. Missouri State is 6-0 this season when winning the battle on the boards. The Lady Bears have also out-rebounded 83 of their last 98 MVC opponents. 
• Missouri State's junior class (Green, Scott, Stokes, Taylor) is accounting for 60% of the Lady Bears' scoring this season. The combination of two returners and two transfers has scored 377 of MSU's 628 points on the year.  

The Series
    Missouri State leads the all-time series against Valparaiso, 10-1, including a 4-0 record at home. Four of the last five games in the series have been played in Valparaiso, marking the first matchup between the two in Springfield since Jan. 2, 2022. 
    In last season's only matchup against the Beacons, Missouri State fell by a score of 77-68 on the road, marking its first loss in the history of the series. MSU led by four at the half in the contest, but Valpo took the lead for good in the fourth quarter of a close game to seal the victory.
    In the last meeting in Springfield, the Lady Bears earned a 12-point victory as Paige Rocca earned her first career start against the Beacons and former Lady Bear Sydney Wilson had a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. 

A Lady Bear Win Would...
    ?   Extend MSU's current win streak to five games. 
    ?   Mark Missouri State's ninth consecutive win at home - the Lady Bears haven't lost at Great Southern Bank Arena since Feb. 19, 2023 against Belmont. 
    ?   Keep the Lady Bears undefeated at home this season and move them to 5-0 all-time against the Beacons in Springfield.