Missouri State women’s basketball remains a game up on the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference after escaping an overtime showdown at Northern Iowa on Thursday night.
The Lady Bears won 75-72 over Nothern Iowa to tip off a crucial late-season stretch. In consecutive games, they face the five teams directly below them in the MVC standings.
MSU (21-5, 13-2 MVC) will now travel to second-place Drake on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a game with major conference championship implications.
More: Where does Missouri State women’s basketball rank in latest March Madness bracketology?
Missouri State women’s basketball escapes with overtime win over Northern Iowa
Neither team led by more than five points in the fourth quarter before Lacy Stokes and Maya McDermott exchanged buckets in the final 13 seconds to force overtime.
Down two, UNI’s Emerson Green found her way to the free throw line with 51 seconds. She split her free throws, but the Lady Bears failed to secure the rebound. The Panthers couldn’t capitalize at the other end, turning the ball over, but McDermott was called for a travel with 10 seconds left.
Stokes was fouled with 4.9 seconds left who sank both of them to go up by three. She finished the game with 21 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
Northern Iowa turned the ball over on its final possession.
Where the MSU Lady Bears are in the MVC standings
The Lady Bears remain a game ahead of second-place Drake heading into a matchup between the two on Saturday afternoon. An MSU win would give it a two-game lead over the rest of the league. A loss would create a two-way tie atop the standings.
Drake defeated Southern Illinois 82-40 on Thursday night. Murray State beat Bradley 81-55.
Illinois State beat Belmont 66-63 in Normal, Illinois, creating a three-way tie for third place.
MVC standings after Thursday night’s games
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1. Missouri State, 13-2
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2. Drake, 12-3
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T3. Belmont, 11-4
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T3. Murray State, 11-4
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T3. Illinois State, 11-4
What’s next for Missouri State women’s basketball?
A rematch between Missouri State and Drake will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa. The Lady Bears needed a Paige Rocca 3 at the horn to force overtime before pulling away for a 72-68 win in Springfield on Jan. 24.
Katie Dinnebier scored 28 points for the Bulldogs in the game. Anna Miller scored 14 points and grabbed 18 rebounds but turned the ball over 13 times.
Six different Lady Bears scored in double figures in the game, with Lacy Stokes leading the team with 15 points.
Remaining Missouri State women’s basketball schedule
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Saturday, 2 p.m. — @ Drake
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Feb. 27 — @ Murray State
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March 1 — @ Belmont
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March 6 — Illinois State
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March 8 — Bradley
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State women’s basketball stays hot in March Madness, MVC race
