Missouri State Lady Bears to face Stephen F. Austin in NCAA First Four

The Lady Bears earned a No. 16 seed after winning the Conference USA Tournament title in their first year in the league.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:24am

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The Missouri State Lady Bears (22-12) earned a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will open their 18th NCAA appearance on Wednesday, March 18 in Austin, Texas. Mo State will face Stephen F. Austin in the First Four round, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 seed Texas on Friday, March 20.

Why it matters

Missouri State's appearance in the NCAA Tournament extends their postseason streak to 11 consecutive years. The Lady Bears won the Conference USA Tournament title in their first year in the league, becoming the lowest seed to win the CUSA Tournament since Tulsa in 2013.

The details

The Lady Bears finished the regular season tied for third (11-7) in Conference USA and carried the No. 6 seed into the conference tournament, before capturing their 12th tournament crown in program history. This marks the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Bears since 2021-22.

  • The First Four matchup between Missouri State and Stephen F. Austin will take place on Wednesday, March 18.
  • The winner of the First Four game will advance to play No. 1 seed Texas on Friday, March 20.

The players

Missouri State Lady Bears

The women's basketball team of Missouri State University, who earned a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Stephen F. Austin

The opponent of the Missouri State Lady Bears in the First Four round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Texas

The No. 1 seed that the winner of the Missouri State-Stephen F. Austin First Four matchup will face on Friday, March 20.

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What they’re saying

“Reaction:”

— Kaemyn Bekemeier & Lainie Douglas, Missouri State Lady Bears players

“Reaction:”

— Beth Cunningham, Missouri State Lady Bears head coach

What’s next

Game time, television and ticket information will be available at a later time. Any fans interested in ticket information should fill out the 2026 Women's Basketball Postseason NCAA Tournament Ticket Interest Form.

The takeaway

The Missouri State Lady Bears' appearance in the NCAA Tournament extends their impressive postseason streak to 11 consecutive years. Their Conference USA Tournament title victory as the No. 6 seed demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to overcome challenges, setting the stage for an exciting First Four matchup against Stephen F. Austin.