Lady Bears Add Transfer Macie Mays

Missouri State women's basketball signs Pittsburg State guard/forward with two years of eligibility remaining.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:29am

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the fluid movements and teamwork of a women's basketball game, conceptually representing the versatility and winning pedigree that transfer Macie Mays will add to the Missouri State Lady Bears.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic energy and team chemistry that Macie Mays will bring to the Missouri State Lady Bears' basketball program.Springfield Today

Missouri State women's basketball head coach Beth Cunningham announced the signing of transfer Macie Mays, a 5-11 guard/forward who spent the last three years at Pittsburg State. Mays has two years of eligibility remaining and was a key contributor for the Gorillas, earning All-MIAA honors and helping the team reach the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Why it matters

The addition of Mays, a proven scorer and versatile player, bolsters the Lady Bears' roster as they look to build on their recent success. Missouri State has had success in the past integrating Division II transfers, and Cunningham expects Mays to have a similar positive impact on the program.

The details

In her career at Pittsburg State, Mays averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 69 assists, 57 steals and 10 blocks per game, while shooting 52% from the field, 37% from three and 81% from the line. As a sophomore, she averaged 13.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, earning third-team All-MIAA and MIAA All-Tournament team honors. In her freshman season, she averaged 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, helping the Gorillas win the MIAA Tournament championship.

  • Mays spent the last three years at Pittsburg State, but redshirted last season.
  • In the 2024-25 season, Mays was a key contributor for a Pittsburg State squad that won the MIAA regular season and postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
  • As a freshman in 2023-24, Mays helped lead the Gorillas to the program's first-ever MIAA Tournament championship.

The players

Beth Cunningham

Missouri State women's basketball head coach.

Macie Mays

A 5-11 guard/forward who spent the last three years at Pittsburg State and has two years of eligibility remaining.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to add Macie to our Lady Bears family. After growing up watching the Lady Bears and knowing her father's history of playing at Missouri State, Macie understands the pride, tradition and expectation when it comes to wearing a Lady Bear uniform. She is a proven scorer, has been a winner at multiple levels and possesses a great amount of versatility on the floor. We have been fortunate to have had a great deal of success the last three years with players that have made the transition from Division II to Division I. Those players have impacted us tremendously and I expect Macie will be no different.”

— Beth Cunningham, Missouri State women's basketball head coach

The takeaway

The addition of Macie Mays, a proven scorer and versatile player from the Division II level, is an exciting move for the Missouri State women's basketball program as they look to build on their recent success. Mays' experience and talent should help the Lady Bears continue to thrive in the Division I ranks.