MOLINE, Ill. – It turns out the third time was the charm for the Missouri State women’s basketball team.
After losing two regular-season games to Drake in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Lady Bears won the most important meeting of the season, claiming a 65-61 victory in the semifinals of the league tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Next up is second-seeded Northern Iowa, with the winner of Sunday’s 2 p.m. championship game getting the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Missouri State hasn’t won the Valley tournament title or reached the NCAAs since 2006, but now the Lady Bears are 40 minutes away.