History
Missouri State, known as Southwest Missouri State (SMSU) until 2005, began play in women's basketball in 1969. The Lady Bears played in the Missouri AIAW state tournaments from 1970 to 1982, post-season AIAW regional tournaments in 1974, 1975 and 1981, and the AIAW Division II national tourney in 1981. In 1982, the Lady Bears joined the ranks of Division I programs in the NCAA. From 1982 to 1992, the Lady Bears played in the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference before that conference was absorbed by the Missouri Valley Conference in 1992.
Missouri State has made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament including six straight appearances from 1991 to 1996, four straight appearances from 1998 to 2001, as well as appearances in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The Lady Bears' tournament success is highlighted by two trips to the Final Four (1992, 2001), two Elite Eight appearances (1992, 2001) and five trips to the Sweet Sixteen (1992, 1993, 2001, 2019, 2021).
The Lady Bears have made 9 appearances in the WNIT (2002, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023). They won the 2005 WNIT, 78–70, over West Virginia.
As of the end of the 2023–2024 season, they have an all-time record of 993–639 (.608). [3] [4]
1992 Final Four
In 1992, Missouri State as an 8-seed became the lowest women's seed at the time to make the Final Four. The Lady Bears beat Kansas 75–59, Iowa 61–60 in overtime, UCLA 83–57 and Ole Miss 94–71. They were defeated 84–72 by Western Kentucky in the National Semifinals.
2001 Final Four
In 2001 Missouri State earned a 5-seed in the West Region. The Lady Bears went to the Final Four in St. Louis after winning the West Region Missouri State defeated Toledo 89–71, Rutgers 60–53, Duke 81–71, and Washington 104–87. They were beaten in the National Semifinals by Purdue 81–64.
NCAA Tournament appearances
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|
| 1991 | #8 | First Round
Second Round | #9 Tennessee Tech
#1 Tennessee | W 94–64
L 47–55 |
| 1992 | #8 | First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four | #9 Kansas
#1 Iowa
#5 UCLA
#2 Ole Miss
#4 Western Kentucky | W 75–59
W 61–60
W 83–57
W 94–71
L 72–84 |
| 1993 | #7 | First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen | #10 Oklahoma State
#2 Maryland
#6 Louisiana Tech | W 86–71
W 86–82
L 43–59 |
| 1994 | #6 | First Round
Second Round | #11 Northern Illinois
#3 Virginia | W 75–56
L 63–67 |
| 1995 | #9 | First Round
Second Round | #8 Utah
#1 Colorado | W 49–47
L 34–78 |
| 1996 | #12 | First Round | #5 Texas | L 55–73 |
| 1998 | #8 | First Round | #9 Notre Dame | L 64–78 |
| 1999 | #7 | First Round
Second Round | #10 UC Santa Barbara
#2 Colorado State | W 72–70
L 70–86 |
| 2000 | #10 | First Round | #7 Auburn | L 74–78 |
| 2001 | #5 | First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four | #12 Toledo
#4 Rutgers
#1 Duke
#6 Washington
#3 Purdue | W 89–71
W 60–53
W 81–71
W 104–87
L 64–81 |
| 2003 | #15 | First Round | #2 Texas Tech | L 59–67 |
| 2004 | #12 | First Round | #5 Notre Dame | L 65–69 (OT) |
| 2006 | #13 | First Round | #4 Purdue | L 52–73 |
| 2016 | #13 | First Round | #4 Texas A&M | L 65–74 |
| 2019 | #11 | First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen | #6 DePaul
#3 Iowa State
#2 Stanford | W 89–77
W 69–60
L 46–55 |
| 2021 | #5 | First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen | #12 UC Davis
#13 Wright State
#1 Stanford | W 70–51
W 64–39
L 62–89 |
| 2022 | #11 | First Four
First Round | #11 Florida State
#6 Ohio State | W 61–50
L 56–63 |
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
