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
2024–25 Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team
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
Colors	Maroon and white[1]
Uniforms
Home 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 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

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

• 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
• 4x- All Conference First Team
• MVC All-Centennial Team
• MVC 25 Year Team

(#22) Kari Koch

• 1x- All-American
• 4x- All Conference First Team
• MVC Player of the Year (2004)
• MVC All-Centennial Team
• MVC 25 Year Team

(#35) Melody Howard

• 2x- All-American
• 3x- All Conference
• MVC Player of the Year (1994)
• MVC All-Centennial Team
• MVC 25 Year Team
• Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame
• Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

(#42) Jeanette Tendai

• 2x- All American
• 3x- All Conference
• 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	21–7			2nd Place AIAW Region VI Tournament
1974–75	Reba Sims	16–10			3rd 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	25–10			2nd 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	12–16	8–10	6th
1984–85	Valerie Goodwin-Colbert	12–16	9–9	4th
1985–86	Valerie Goodwin-Colbert	6–21	5–13	7th
1986–87	Valerie Goodwin-Colbert	17–10	12–6	2nd
Cheryl Burnett (1987–2002)
1987–88	Cheryl Burnett	9–17	6–12	T-6th
1988–89	Cheryl Burnett	7–20	5–13	8th
1989–90	Cheryl Burnett	19–8	14–4	T-1st
1990–91	Cheryl Burnett	26–5	16–2	1st	NCAA second round
1991–92	Cheryl Burnett	31–3	17–1	1st	NCAA Final Four
Missouri State Lady Bears (Missouri Valley Conference) (1992–Present)
1992–93	Cheryl Burnett	23–9	14–2	1st	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94	Cheryl Burnett	24–6	15–1	1st	NCAA second round
1994–95	Cheryl Burnett	21–12	14–4	1st	NCAA second round
1995–96	Cheryl Burnett	25–5	16–2	1st	NCAA first round
1996–97	Cheryl Burnett	17–10	13–5	T-2nd
1997–98	Cheryl Burnett	24–6	14–4	2nd	NCAA first round
1998–99	Cheryl Burnett	25–7	15–3	1st	NCAA second round
1999–00	Cheryl Burnett	23–9	14–4	T–2nd	NCAA first round
2000–01	Cheryl Burnett	29–6	16–2	T-1st	NCAA Final Four
2001–02	Cheryl Burnett	16–13	12–6	3rd	WNIT First Round
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (2002–2007)
2002–03	Katie Abrahamson-Henderson	18–13	11–7	4th	NCAA first round
2003–04	Katie Abrahamson-Henderson	28–4	16–2	1st	NCAA first round
2004–05	Katie Abrahamson-Henderson	25–8	15–3	1st	WNIT Champion
2005–06	Katie Abrahamson-Henderson	17–15	7–11	T-6th	NCAA first round
2006–07	Katie Abrahamson-Henderson	7–21	3–15	10th
Nyla Milleson (2007–2013)
2007–08	Nyla Milleson	11–19	9–9	5th
2008–09	Nyla Milleson	10–20	6–12	7th
2009–10	Nyla Milleson	22–11	12–6	T-3rd	WNIT Third Round
2010–11	Nyla Milleson	24–11	12–6	T-2nd	WNIT Second Round
2011–12	Nyla Milleson	24–9	14–4	1st	WNIT Third Round
2012–13	Nyla Milleson	14–17	6–12	8th
Kellie Harper (2013–2019)
2013–14	Kellie Harper	14–17	8–10	T-6th
2014–15	Kellie Harper	18–15	13–5	3rd	WNIT First Round
2015–16	Kellie Harper	24–10	14–4	T-2nd	NCAA first round
2016–17	Kellie Harper	16–15	12–6	3rd	WNIT First Round
2017–18	Kellie Harper	21–12	15–3	2nd	WNIT Second Round
2018–19	Kellie Harper	25–10	16–2	2nd	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (2019–2022)
2019–20	Amaka Agugua-Hamilton	26–4	16–2	1st	Cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21	Amaka Agugua-Hamilton	23–3	16–0	1st	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2021–22	Amaka Agugua-Hamilton	24–7	14–4	2nd	NCAA tournament
Beth Cunningham (2022–present)
2022–23	Beth Cunningham	20–12	14–6	T–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

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.

External links

• Official website