Liberty Defeats Missouri State Women's Basketball 55-43

Missouri State suffers third straight loss at home against Liberty

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Missouri State women's basketball team (15-11, 7-6 CUSA) fell to Liberty (14-11, 8-6 CUSA) by a score of 55-43 on Thursday night at Great Southern Bank Arena. After rallying to tie the game at 24-24 at halftime, Missouri State struggled in the third quarter, scoring just 4 points as Liberty went on a 16-2 run to take control of the game.

Why it matters

This loss marks Missouri State's third straight defeat, dropping them further down the standings in the CUSA conference. The Lady Bears will need to rebound quickly if they hope to secure a spot in the postseason tournament.

The details

Kaemyn Bekemeier led all scorers with 19 points and 8 rebounds for Missouri State, but the team shot just 25% from the field and 15% from three-point range. Liberty took over the game in the third quarter, outscoring Missouri State 16-4 to build a double-digit lead that the Lady Bears couldn't overcome.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • Missouri State trailed by just one point, 12-11, after the first quarter.
  • The game was tied 24-24 at halftime before Liberty's big third quarter run.
  • Missouri State pulled back within 7 points in the fourth quarter but couldn't complete the comeback.

The players

Kaemyn Bekemeier

A key player for Missouri State, Bekemeier scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the loss.

Maiesha Washington

The Missouri State forward pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds in the game.

Maycee James

The Missouri State guard recorded 5 steals against Liberty.

Faith Lee

A Liberty player who scored the first two baskets of the game.

Lainie Douglas

A Liberty player who scored the first two baskets of the game alongside Faith Lee.

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What they’re saying

“We must regroup and get ready for our next game against Delaware on Saturday. This was a tough loss, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger.”

— Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State Player

What’s next

Missouri State will host Delaware on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM. The game will stream on ESPN+.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for Missouri State as they try to climb the CUSA standings, but the Lady Bears will have a chance to bounce back quickly when they host Delaware this weekend. The team's shooting struggles will be an area of focus as they prepare for the next game.