Missouri State, Stephen F. Austin Meet in NCAA Tournament First Four

Lady Bears and Lumberjacks face off with a spot in the main bracket on the line

Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:03am

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Missouri State coach Beth Cunningham returns to Austin, Texas, nearly 29 years after leading Notre Dame to an upset victory over the Longhorns in the 1997 NCAA Tournament. This time, Cunningham's No. 16 seed Lady Bears (22-12) face another challenge as an underdog, taking on No. 16 seed Stephen F. Austin (25-9) in a First Four play-in game on Wednesday.

Why it matters

The winner of the Missouri State-Stephen F. Austin matchup will advance to face the No. 1 seed and host Longhorns (31-3) on Friday. Both teams enter the tournament as non-regular season champions, gaining momentum at the right time, and the game features several connections between the programs.

The details

Missouri State is a 2.5-point betting favorite against Stephen F. Austin, a Southland Conference team making its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021. The Lady Bears and Lumberjacks both entered their respective tournaments as non-regular season champions. Stephen F. Austin associate head coach Steve Yang is a 2006 Missouri State graduate, and Missouri State senior Angel Scott previously played for Stephen F. Austin under current Lumberjacks head coach Leonard Bishop.

  • The Missouri State-Stephen F. Austin game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 8 p.m. CT.
  • Missouri State coach Beth Cunningham last coached in Austin nearly 29 years ago, leading Notre Dame to an upset victory over Texas in the 1997 NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.

The players

Beth Cunningham

The head coach of the Missouri State Lady Bears, who is returning to Austin nearly 29 years after leading Notre Dame to an upset victory over Texas in the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

Steve Yang

The associate head coach of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, who is a 2006 Missouri State graduate and former Lady Bears director of basketball operations.

Angel Scott

A senior on the Missouri State Lady Bears team, who previously played for Stephen F. Austin under current Lumberjacks head coach Leonard Bishop.

Leonard Bishop

The head coach of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.

Ashton Judd

The Texas Longhorns senior guard, whose father was a member of the 1999 Missouri State team that reached the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a talented team, very guard-oriented, that loves to shoot the 3 and play with tempo.”

— Beth Cunningham, Missouri State Head Coach

“Missouri State is a long and physical team that secures out in transition and is gritty on the defensive end.”

— Leonard Bishop, Stephen F. Austin Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Missouri State-Stephen F. Austin matchup will advance to face the No. 1 seed and host Longhorns (31-3) on Friday.

The takeaway

This First Four matchup features several intriguing connections between the programs, including a coach returning to the site of a past NCAA Tournament upset and a player facing her former team. The quick turnaround for Missouri State could present a challenge, but the Lady Bears' physicality and Stephen F. Austin's up-tempo style should make for an exciting game with a spot in the main NCAA Tournament bracket on the line.