Missouri State Lady Bears basketball

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Missouri State Lady Bears
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team
Missouri State Athletics wordmark.svg
University Missouri State University
Head coach Beth Cunningham (3rd season)
Conference Missouri Valley
(Conference USA in 2025–26)
Location Springfield, Missouri
Arena Great Southern Bank Arena
(capacity: 11,000)
Nickname Lady Bears
ColorsMaroon and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


NCAA tournament Final Four
1992, 2001
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1992, 2001
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1992, 1993, 2001, 2019, 2021
NCAA tournament round of 32
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2019, 2021
NCAA tournament appearances
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022
AIAW tournament appearances
1981
Conference tournament champions
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2019
Conference regular season champions
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2020, 2021

The Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team represents Missouri State University in NCAA Division I women's basketball. The team has a storied history making 2 NCAA Final Fours, reaching 17 NCAA Tournaments, and claiming 13 conference regular season titles. The Lady Bears compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. [2]

Contents

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

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1991 #8First Round
Second Round		#9 Tennessee Tech
#1 Tennessee		W 94–64
L 47–55
1992 #8First 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 #7First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#10 Oklahoma State
#2 Maryland
#6 Louisiana Tech		W 86–71
W 86–82
L 43–59
1994 #6First Round
Second Round		#11 Northern Illinois
#3 Virginia		W 75–56
L 63–67
1995 #9First Round
Second Round		#8 Utah
#1 Colorado		W 49–47
L 34–78
1996 #12First Round#5 TexasL 55–73
1998 #8First Round#9 Notre DameL 64–78
1999 #7First Round
Second Round		#10 UC Santa Barbara
#2 Colorado State		W 72–70
L 70–86
2000 #10First Round#7 AuburnL 74–78
2001 #5First 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 #15First Round#2 Texas TechL 59–67
2004 #12First Round#5 Notre DameL 65–69 (OT)
2006 #13First Round#4 PurdueL 52–73
2016 #13First Round#4 Texas A&ML 65–74
2019 #11First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#6 DePaul
#3 Iowa State
#2 Stanford		W 89–77
W 69–60
L 46–55
2021 #5First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#12 UC Davis
#13 Wright State
#1 Stanford		W 70–51
W 64–39
L 62–89
2022 #11First Four
First Round		#11 Florida State
#6 Ohio State		W 61–50
L 56–63

AIAW Division II tournament results

The Bears made one appearance in the AIAW National Division II basketball tournament, with a combined record of 0–1.

1981 First Round College of Charleston L, 55–70

Retired Numbers

Missouri State has retired 4 numbers, which now hang in the rafters of the Lady Bear's home, Great Southern Bank Arena. Additionally, former head coach, Cheryl Burnett was honored with a retired jersey in recognition of her leadership of the Lady Bear's program.

(#10) Jackie Stiles

(#22) Kari Koch

(#35) Melody Howard

(#42) Jeanette Tendai

(HC) Cheryl Burnett

Lady Bears Retired Numbers
NumberPlayerYears ActiveG-GSFG-FGAFG PCT3FG-3FGA3FG PCTFT-FTAFT PCTREBAVGPTSAVGATOBSMINMPG
10 Jackie Stiles 1997–2001129–1281160–2188.530221–501.441852–997.8554793.7339326.329538123413332.0
35Melody Howard1990–1994127–123716–1527.469258–588.439254–315.8064033.2194415.33562928371029.2
42Janette Tendai1982–1986110–97726–1468.495------317–414.7669108.3176916.19325627------
HCCheryl BurnetHead Coach: 1987–2002------------------------------------------------

Year by year results

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Missouri State Lady Bears (Missouri AIAW state tournament)(1969–1982)
Reba Sims (1969–1979)
1969–70Reba Sims 10–7
1970–71Reba Sims 14–6
1971–72Reba Sims 19–6
1972–73Reba Sims 19–12
1973–74Reba Sims 21–72nd Place AIAW Region VI Tournament
1974–75Reba Sims 16–103rd Place AIAW Region VI Tournament
1975–76Reba Sims 6–17
1976–77Reba Sims 8–17
1977–78Reba Sims 8–17
1978–79Reba Sims 8–17
Marti Gasser (1979–1983)
1979–80Marti Gasser 8–17
1980–81Marti Gasser 25–102nd Place AIAW Region VI, AIAW first round
1981–82Marti Gasser 19–14
Missouri State Lady Bears (Gateway Conference)(1982–1992)
1982–83Marti Gasser 10–18
Valerie Goodwin-Colbert (1983–1987)
1983–84Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 12–168–106th
1984–85Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 12–169–94th
1985–86Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 6–215–137th
1986–87Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 17–1012–62nd
Cheryl Burnett (1987–2002)
1987–88Cheryl Burnett 9–176–12T-6th
1988–89Cheryl Burnett 7–205–138th
1989–90Cheryl Burnett 19–814–4T-1st
1990–91Cheryl Burnett 26–516–21st NCAA second round
1991–92Cheryl Burnett 31–317–11st NCAA Final Four
Missouri State Lady Bears (Missouri Valley Conference)(1992–Present)
1992–93Cheryl Burnett 23–914–21st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94Cheryl Burnett 24–615–11st NCAA second round
1994–95Cheryl Burnett 21–1214–41st NCAA second round
1995–96Cheryl Burnett 25–516–21st NCAA first round
1996–97Cheryl Burnett 17–1013–5T-2nd
1997–98Cheryl Burnett 24–614–42nd NCAA first round
1998–99Cheryl Burnett 25–715–31st NCAA second round
1999–00Cheryl Burnett 23–914–4T–2nd NCAA first round
2000–01Cheryl Burnett 29–616–2T-1st NCAA Final Four
2001–02Cheryl Burnett 16–1312–63rdWNIT First Round
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (2002–2007)
2002–03Katie Abrahamson-Henderson 18–1311–74th NCAA first round
2003–04Katie Abrahamson-Henderson 28–416–21st NCAA first round
2004–05Katie Abrahamson-Henderson 25–815–31stWNIT Champion
2005–06Katie Abrahamson-Henderson 17–157–11T-6th NCAA first round
2006–07Katie Abrahamson-Henderson 7–213–1510th
Nyla Milleson (2007–2013)
2007–08Nyla Milleson 11–199–95th
2008–09Nyla Milleson 10–206–127th
2009–10Nyla Milleson 22–1112–6T-3rdWNIT Third Round
2010–11Nyla Milleson 24–1112–6T-2ndWNIT Second Round
2011–12Nyla Milleson 24–914–41stWNIT Third Round
2012–13Nyla Milleson 14–176–128th
Kellie Harper (2013–2019)
2013–14Kellie Harper 14–178–10T-6th
2014–15Kellie Harper 18–1513–53rdWNIT First Round
2015–16Kellie Harper 24–1014–4T-2nd NCAA first round
2016–17Kellie Harper 16–1512–63rdWNIT First Round
2017–18Kellie Harper 21–1215–32ndWNIT Second Round
2018–19Kellie Harper 25–1016–22nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (2019–2022)
2019–20Amaka Agugua-Hamilton 26–416–21stCancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21Amaka Agugua-Hamilton 23–316–01st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2021–22Amaka Agugua-Hamilton 24–714–42nd NCAA tournament
Beth Cunningham (2022–present)
2022–23Beth Cunningham 20–1214–6T–4th WNIT First round
Total:969–628 (.607)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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Melinda Fischer is a retired softball and basketball coach who was active from the 1970s to 2020s. As an AIAW coach, Fischer coached the women's basketball and softball teams at Eastern Illinois University during the 1970s. With Illinois State University, her team reached the second round of the 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship and the third place game of the 1982 National Women's Invitational Tournament. The following year, her team won the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and reached the first round of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. In 1985, Fischer's team competed in the first round of the NCAA Division I tournament and she received the Coach of the Year for the Gateway Conference.

The 2023–24 Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team represented Missouri State University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Lady Bears, led by second-year head coach Beth Cunningham, played their home games at the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). They finished the season 23–10, 15–5 in MVC play, to finish in third place.

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References

  1. ↑ "Colors - Identity Standards - Missouri State University". February 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Missouri State University Official Athletic Site". Missouristatebears.com. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  3. ↑ "Missouri State University Official Athletic Site" (PDF). Missouristatebears.com. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  4. ↑ "Missouri State 2016–17 Lady Bear Basketball Guide" (PDF). Sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
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