Final: MSU Lady Bears 84, Indiana State 70

The MSU Lady Bears survived a second half scare and held on to beat Indiana State 84-70 Friday night in front of more than 3500 fans at JQH Arena.

Jaleisha Roberson had 19 points to lead four MSU players in double figures. Christiana Shorter finished with 18 points. Karly Buer had 13 and Casey Garrison scored 12.

Sophomores Bry Snow and Desiree Phillips, in the starting lineup for the second straight game, each had nine points for the Lady Bears.

Deja Mattox, who tied an individual record for a Lady Bears' opponent with seven three pointers, had 31 points for the Sycamores to lead all scorers.

Missouri State never trailed in the contest, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before Mattox put the Sycamores on the board with her first three of the night, making it 8-3. Mattox would connect less than a minute later to bring her team within four, 10-6.

The Lady Bears went on an 8-0 run to go up by 12 when Phillips hit a shot with 14:40 left in the half, but Indiana State would stay close with the three ball, tying the game 25-25 with 9:26 left on Mattox' sixth one from long distance.

MSU put together a 12-2 run and extended its lead to 42-31 with just over three minutes remaining in the first half before the Sycamores cut it down to 45-41 going into the locker room at halftime.

ISU got within three on Anna Munn's three pointer two minutes into the contest, but Roberson, who drained four from beyond the arc, answered with a three of her own to put the Lady Bears up 50-44.

The Lady Bears went back up by 12 on Phillips' three pointer with 10:34 remaining in regulation, but Indiana State refused to die. Mattox' seventh three pointer pulled ISU within three, 63-60, with just under seven minutes left. 

The Lady Bears' defense wore down the visitors and MSU hit some big free throws to pull away in the final four minutes of the game.

Roberson says guarding Indiana State's three point shooters, such as Mattox, is a challenge. "You've just got to take some off screens and keep your hands up," Roberson said. "If a shooter's hot, they're hot, no matter if you're hands are up. It was a couple of her shots that were contested like hands in face, but she still knocked it down. That's what a shooter does." 

MSU Head Coach Nyla Milleson says her team gave great effort for 40 minutes. "There's still some things we've got to be a little bit better on," Milleson said. "I didn't think we came out of the locker room very well the second half, but a timeout took care of that one."

Milleson says Buer, who hit only four of 16 shots from the field, is improving. "She is struggling percentage wise right now, but we've just got to continue to have her shoot it and get more confidence. I really like her going all the way to the hole. The play of the game might be when she drove and the little dump to Chris. She can be a very difficult matchup."

Buer says this was one of her most complete efforts of the season. "I played more minutes this game than any other game this season, so when coach has me on the floor, I feel like I need to do what I need to do to help the team out."  And that includes more than just shooting. "Lately, I've tried to drive more and not settle for the outside shot as much, and coach has encouraged me to keep doing that."

Milleson says her sophomore starters are making the most of their opportunities. "It's about opportunity and it's about accepting roles and getting done what your team needs you to do. In Bry's case, I think it's just been one of those things. We've been continuing to look for consistency and she hasn't played for a couple of years. I think she maybe wanted things a little bit too fast, a little bit too quick, and she finally just settled in and got consistent day in and day out." 

And on Phillips? "I just have to tip really tip my hat to Desiree Phillips," Milleson said. "It's a situation where we recruit players that we know can play. At some point and time, they get that opportunity. And Desiree Phillips has sat that bench night in and night out, but she continues to be the first one in and the first one out most days." 

Following their second straight conference win, the Lady Bears improve to 12-6 overall, 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Indiana State drops to 10-10, 4-4.

MSU will take on Illinois State Sunday afternoon at JQH Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:05.