MOLINE, Ill. – The Missouri State Lady Bears are going back to the big dance.
After a nine-year absence, the Lady Bears punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, defeating Northern Iowa 71-58 in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Liza Fruendt came off the bench to score 16 points, hitting 3 of 5 shots from 3-point range, and Lexi Hughes had 11 in a reserve role.
League Player of the Year Tyonna Snow had 17 points and 15 rebounds, with Kenzie Williams scoring 13 points.
It marks the next step in the rebuilding process under third-year coach Kellie Harper.