Missouri State Women's Basketball Cruises Past Western Kentucky 75-52

Lady Bears dominate on the glass and from beyond the arc to earn decisive victory at home

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Missouri State Lady Bears women's basketball team earned a convincing 75-52 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Great Southern Bank Arena. Kaemyn Bekemeier led the way with 21 points, while freshman Kendal Brueggen matched her career-high with 16 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter. Missouri State jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, dominating on the glass and knocking down 10 three-pointers in the game.

Why it matters

This win improves Missouri State's record to 15-8 overall and 7-3 in Conference USA play, keeping them in the hunt for a top spot in the conference standings. The Lady Bears' ability to control the boards and shoot efficiently from deep proved to be the difference, as they bounced back from a tough road loss earlier in the week.

The details

Missouri State came out firing on all cylinders, opening the game on an 18-0 run and holding Western Kentucky scoreless for over 8 minutes in the first quarter. The Lady Toppers made a push in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 6 at halftime, but the Lady Bears stretched the lead back out in the second half, with Brueggen taking over in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Missouri State dominated the glass, outrebounding WKU 43-24, and shot an impressive 56% from three-point range.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri.
  • Missouri State jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter.

The players

Kaemyn Bekemeier

A standout junior guard for the Missouri State Lady Bears, Bekemeier led the team with 21 points in the victory.

Kendal Brueggen

A freshman guard for Missouri State, Brueggen matched her career-high with 16 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

Beth Cunningham

The head coach of the Missouri State Lady Bears, Cunningham has led the team to a 15-8 record so far this season.

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What’s next

The Lady Bears will look to build on this win as they hit the road next week for games at Sam Houston (Feb. 12) and Louisiana Tech (Feb. 14).

The takeaway

Missouri State's dominant performance on both ends of the floor, particularly their ability to control the boards and knock down three-pointers, was the key to this decisive victory over Western Kentucky. The Lady Bears are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in Conference USA play.