La Tech powers past Lady Bears 60-51

SPRINGFIELD, Mo–The Missouri State Lady Bears were fighting to stay atop the Conference USA standings.

The Lady Bears tipped off Thursday night’s game tied with Louisiana Tech at 4-1 in Conference USA.

The winner will join Middle Tennessee in a first place tie in the league.

MoState was trying to bounce back from its loss last weekend at New Mexico State.

The Lady Bears have won the last four games played against La Tech.

And MoState’s offense was running through Lainie Douglas early, nice ball movement to the middle for Douglas it’s 10-9 La Tech.

Then inside to the sophomore from Overland Park, and it’s a two point game.

La Tech’s Paris Bradley had a big game, her hoop here gives the Lady Techsters a 25-18 lead.

That’s when Kaemyn Bekemeier contributes, she drives to the hole, the hoop and the foul, the three point play the hard way gives the Lady Bears a 27-25 lead.

But right before the half, Jianna Morris hits this three pointer, and La Tech led 32-28 at halftime.

Third quarter, the Lady Bears go back to Douglas, her basket ties the game at 33.

But the rest of the game belonged to Louisiana Tech it’s Bradley again, this basket puts the Lady Techsters up by ten 49-39.

La Tech just too strong, they get the steal, then down the floor, and Kaleigh Thompson finishes with the layup.

Paris Bradley led all scorers with 20 points.

And Louisiana Tech hands the Lady Bears their second straight loss 60-to-51.

“Just disappointed, ya know. When you hold a team to 60 points you gotta find a way to win where you hold a team to 60 points. It felt like the entire game we had to call a play off a dead ball or make we really got stagnant, stagnant on offense,” said Lady Bears coach Beth Cunningham.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.