Missouri State Lady Bears basketball

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]

Missouri State Lady Bears
2022–23 Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team
UniversityMissouri State University
Head coachBeth Cunningham (1st season)
ConferenceMissouri Valley
LocationSpringfield, Missouri
ArenaJQH Arena
(Capacity: 11,000)
NicknameLady Bears
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
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

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 1970–1982, 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 1991–1996, four straight appearances from 1998–2001, 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 8 appearances in the WNIT (2002, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018). They won the 2005 WNIT, 78–70, over West Virginia.

As of the end of the 2019–2020 season, they have an all-time record of 902–606 (.598).[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#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.

1981First RoundCollege of CharlestonL, 55–70

Retired Numbers

Missouri State has retired 3 numbers, which now hang in the rafters of the Lady Bear's home, JQH 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
  • AP Player of the Year (2001)
  • 3x- All American
  • Wade Trophy Winner (2001)
  • Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2016)
  • Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame
  • Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
  • WNBA Rookie of the Year (2001)
  • 3x- Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year
  • Player of the Year Award in MVC now bears her name

(#35) Melody Howard
  • 2x- All-American
  • 3x- All Conference
  • MVC Player of the Year (1994)
  • Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame
  • Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

(#42) Jeanette Tendai
  • 2x- All American
  • 3x- All Conference Pick
  • MSU Hall of Fame
  • Springfield Area Sport Hall of Fame
  • MVC All-Centennial Team

(HC) Cheryl Burnett
  • Missouri State's winningest women's basketball coach
    • 319–136 (.711) in 15 season
  • 10 NCAA Tournaments
  • 2 Final Fours
  • 15 Conference Titles
  • Led NCAA in attendance in 1992–1993
  • Mentored 8 All-Americans, 6 Academic All-Americans, 5 League MVPs and 26 first-team all MVC selections
Lady Bears Retired Numbers
Number Player Years Active G-GS FG-FGA FG PCT 3FG-3FGA 3FG PCT FT-FTA FT PCT REB AVG PTS AVG A TO BS MIN MPG
10 Jackie Stiles 1997–2001 129–128 1160–2188 .530 221–501 .441 852–997 .855 479 3.7 3393 26.3 295 381 23 4133 32.0
35 Melody Howard 1990–1994 127–123 716–1527 .469 258–588 .439 254–315 .806 403 3.2 1944 15.3 356 292 8 3710 29.2
42 Janette Tendai 1982–1986 110–97 726–1468 .495 --- --- 317–414 .766 910 8.3 1769 16.1 93 256 27 --- ---
HC Cheryl Burnet Head Coach: 1987–2002 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

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

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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