Thursday, January 22
Springfield, Mo.
6:30 p.m.
Missouri State University
vs
LA Tech
Lady Bears Return Home for Crucial CUSA Swing
January 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| Missouri State Lady Bears (12-6, 4-1 CUSA) | |
| Date and Time | Thursday, January 22 vs. Louisiana Tech (11-5, 4-1 CUSA) | 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 24 vs. Sam Houston | RESCHEDULED - FEB. 24 |
| Location | Great Southern Bank Arena | Springfield, Mo. |
| Game 1 | Thursday, January 22 vs. Louisiana Tech | 6:30 p.m. Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Varsity Network | Tickets | Listen Live (96.9 FM) |
| Game 2 | Saturday, January 24 vs. Sam Houston | 1:00 p.m. Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Varsity Network | Tickets | Listen Live (93.7 FM) |
| Missouri State | Game Notes (vs. LA Tech) | Digital Program Game Notes (vs. Sam Houston) | Digital Program Women's Basketball Home Page | Media Guide |
| Opponents | Louisiana Tech | Sam Houston |
| Follow the Lady Bears | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | #LadyBears | #WeAreMoState |
| Bears Mobile App | App Store (Apple Devices) | Google Play Store (Android Devices) |
The Lady Bear Necessities
- Missouri State women's basketball returns home for two crucial Conference USA matchups, beginning with a visit from Louisiana Tech on Thursday night (6:30 p.m.). The game is also serving as the MoState/CUSA Green Game to shine a light on Mental Health awareness.
- MoState and LA Tech are meeting for the sixth time in the programs' histories and for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The Lady Bears have won the last four meetings and are 1-0 in Springfield.
- Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, MSU has compiled a 102-17 record inside Great Southern Bank Arena, while boasting a 81-11 record since the start of the 2019-20 season.
- Kaemyn Bekemeier leads MoState this season with 18.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 29 three-pointers. She leads CUSA in total points (327) and defensive rebounds per game (7.0). The 5-9 guard has scored in double figures in a team-leading 17 of 18 games on the season, including 14 straight.
- The second member of MoState's dynamic duo Lainie Douglas (So., Overland Park, Kan.) is averaging 14.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game and leads the team with a .553 FG% in CUSA games. She owns 25 blocks on the season, which leads Conference USA and ranks 86th nationally.
- Maycee James (Sr., Goddard, Kan.) has posted at least 4 steals in the last four games, totaling 17 steals over that span. She ranks 70th nationally and 5th in CUSA in steals and 71st in the nation and 6th in CUSA with 2.4 steals per game.
- As a team, Missouri State ranks inside the top 10 nationally in: free throw made/game (7th - 17.7) and free throw attempts/game (7th - 24.0). Bekemeier ranks inside the top 10 nationally in FTM (7th - 100) and FTA (11th - 124), while Cady Pauley (Sr., Milan, Mo.) leads CUSA and ranks 37th nationally with an .868 FT%.
- In the Cunningham era, Missouri State is 52-7 when scoring 70+ points, 58-2 when holding opponents to 65 points or less and 43-0 when opponents score less than 60 points. Missouri State is 0-4 this season when allowing 70 or more points.
- Tale of Two Halves - MoState is -40 on the scoreboard in the first half this season, but flips the switch at the break to own a +94 point differential against its opponents in the second half of games.
- Head coach Beth Cunningham is just two wins shy of 250 for her head coaching career. She collected her 80th win at the helm of the Lady Bears on Jan. 10 against Jacksonville State.
- MoState is currently 141 in the NET ranking, which ranks fourth amongst CUSA teams (Louisiana Tech - 100, Sam Houston - 137 and Middle Tennessee - 140).
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballMonday, June 22
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
