Missouri State Lady Bears at Drake Bulldogs
· MVC WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT - FINAL
94 - 79
Willard, Missouri State women top No. 21 Drake for MVC title
Sydney Manning added 14 points, Brice Calip 13 and Danielle Gitzen 12 for the Bears (23-10), whose last win over a ranked team was against No. 5 Duke in the 2001 Sweet 16. It is the 11th MVC tournament title for Missouri State, the most recent coming in 2016.
The Bulldogs (27-6) had won 12 straight since an 85-79 home loss to the Bears on February 1 and were 61-1 against league opponents coming into their third-straight title game.
Drake made 6 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and led 22-21 but the Bears took a 42-35 lead at the half as Willard and Manning both scored 10 points. Sammie Bachrodt was 4 of 4 from distance for 12 points for the Bulldogs, who were 9 of 16 behind the arc.
Willard took over in the third quarter, scoring 15 points as the Bears outscored Drake 26-12. He hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and the teams traded baskets until midway through the quarter when two Willard free throws started a closing 15-2 run. Manning and Gitzen followed the free throws with 3-pointers and after a Drake basket, Willard scored seven points in the last two minutes to make it 68-47.
The Bulldogs scored the first nine points of the fourth but never got closer than nine as Missouri State went 17 of 22 from the foul line, most coming in the last three minutes.
The Bears were 24 of 33 from the foul line and turned 24 Drake turnovers into 25 points en route to the highest offensive output against the Bulldogs this season.
Bachrodt led Drake with 18 points, MVC player of the year Becca Hittner had 16 and Sara Rhine 14.
How can I watch Lady Bears vs. Bulldogs?
- TV Channel: Lady Bears vs Bulldogs 2021 College Basketball, week 19, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Recent Plays
| 4th 0:00 |  |
End of Game | 94 - 79 |
| 4th 0:12 |  |
Becca Hittner made Layup. | 94 - 79 |
| 4th 0:16 |  |
Danielle Gitzen made Free Throw. | 94 - 77 |
| 4th 0:16 | |
Danielle Gitzen made Free Throw. | 93 - 77 |
| 4th 0:16 | |
Foul on Sammie Bachrodt. | 92 - 77 |
Statistics
 MOST |
DRKE |
|
|---|---|---|
| 31-65 | FG | 24-56 |
| 48 | Field Goal % | 43 |
| 8-19 | 3PT | 14-30 |
| 42 | Three Point % | 47 |
| 24-33 | FT | 17-18 |
| 73 | Free Throw % | 94 |
| 38 | Rebounds | 34 |
| 14 | Offensive Rebounds | 9 |
| 24 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 19 | Assists | 19 |
| 16 | Steals | 9 |
| 2 | Blocks | 3 |
| 12 | Turnovers | 24 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 12 | Total Turnovers | 24 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Points Off Turnovers | 0 |
| 0 | Fast Break Points | 0 |
| 0 | Points in Paint | 0 |
| 17 | Fouls | 25 |
| 21 | Largest Lead | 7 |
Game Information
Location: Moline, IL
Attendance: 1,558 | Capacity:
2025-26 Conference USA Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Tech | 17-1 | - | 26-7 |
| Florida International | 12-6 | 5 | 21-12 |
| Missouri State | 11-7 | 6 | 23-13 |
| Liberty | 11-7 | 6 | 18-13 |
| Sam Houston | 11-7 | 6 | 18-13 |
| Middle Tennessee | 11-7 | 6 | 17-16 |
| Jacksonville State | 9-9 | 8 | 16-16 |
| Kennesaw State | 6-12 | 11 | 13-17 |
| Delaware | 6-12 | 11 | 13-19 |
| UTEP | 5-13 | 12 | 13-17 |
| New Mexico State | 5-13 | 12 | 9-21 |
| Western Kentucky | 4-14 | 13 | 8-21 |
2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State | 19-1 | - | 31-4 |
| Belmont | 16-4 | 3 | 20-12 |
| Illinois State | 13-7 | 6 | 24-14 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Northern Iowa | 13-7 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Drake | 10-10 | 9 | 12-20 |
| UIC | 9-11 | 10 | 14-18 |
| Southern Illinois | 7-13 | 12 | 10-20 |
| Indiana State | 5-15 | 14 | 10-22 |
| Evansville | 5-15 | 14 | 10-25 |
| Valparaiso | 0-20 | 19 | 0-32 |