Missouri State women's basketball season ends after WBIT loss to Minnesota

The Missouri State women's basketball team concluded its season with a hard-fought 78-71 loss to Minnesota in the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament. Despite trailing by as many as 17 points, the Lady Bears mounted a strong comeback led by standout performances from Lacy Stokes and her teammates. Stokes finished the season with 504 points, marking a significant achievement in her career, while senior Paige Rocca leaves with 107 victories, the third-most in program history. The Lady Bears' 26 wins this season are tied for the fourth-most in a single season, showcasing their competitiveness in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team's impressive home record of 15-1 this season highlighted their dominance at Great Southern Bank Arena. Ultimately, Minnesota's effective free-throw shooting in the final moments sealed the win and ended Missouri State's run in the tournament.