SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's basketball earned a 75-57 victory over visiting Northeastern State here on Tuesday night at Great Southern Bank Arena in an exhibition game to close its preseason.
 
Faith Lee scored the first points of the night, connecting on a layup to get the Lady Bears rolling in their final tune-up before the start of the regular season. A 7-0 run was the highlight of the opening quarter, sparked by senior Cady Pauley with back-to-back buckets. After MoState stretched the lead to nine points, the Riverhawks ended the period on an 11-4 run to make it a two-point game, 15-13, after one.
 
Lee once again kickstarted the scoring, this time in the second quarter, connecting on a jumper and hitting the first triple of the night for the home squad. JaNyla Bush made her first appearance as a Lady Bear, knocking down a quick triple after entering the game in the second. Late in the first half, MoState put together a good run, finishing the second period on a 12-1 run courtesy of Pauley and freshman Maiesha Washington, to carry a 40-23 lead into the intermission.
 
Pauley and Lee were Missouri State's top scorers in the first half with 12 and nine points, respectively.
 
Sophomore Lainie Douglas came out of the halftime break and found her stride, scoring the first nine points of the third quarter for the Lady Bears. Northeastern State also found some momentum coming out of the locker room, draining four triples to cut the lead to 14 points near the midway point of the third period. Bush later responded with a three-pointer for the Lady Bears, but NSU was able to cut the Lady Bear lead to 10 points with three consecutive baskets to end the third.
 
MoState responded immediately, putting together a 7-0 surge to start the fourth quarter and push the lead back up to 17 points. The Lady Bear defense then went to work, holding the Riverhawks at bay over the remainder of the period as MoState earned an 18-point, 75-57 victory over Northeastern State in the exhibition contest.
 
Lee (17 points), Douglas (15 points) and Pauley (12 points) finished in double figures for the Lady Bears, while transfer Maycee James pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. Missouri State forced 23 turnovers and were plus-12 on the boards.
 
Missouri State officially kicks off the 2025-26 regular season on Monday, Nov. 3 as the Lady Bears host Saint Louis at Great Southern Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will stream on ESPN+.