Lady Bears defeat Stephen F. Austin in NCAA Tournament opener

Missouri State advances to face No. 1 seed Texas in Round of 64

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:30pm

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The No. 16 seed Missouri State Lady Bears defeated Stephen F. Austin 85-75 in the women's NCAA Tournament First Four matchup on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas. Kaemyn Bekemeier led the way for Missouri State with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Lainie Douglas added 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Bears have now won at least one game in each of their last four NCAA Tournament appearances and will face top-seeded Texas in the Round of 64 on Friday.

Why it matters

The Lady Bears' victory over Stephen F. Austin represents an impressive opening round win for the lower-seeded team, setting up an intriguing matchup with powerhouse Texas in the next round. Missouri State's recent NCAA Tournament success also demonstrates the program's ability to consistently compete at a high level on the national stage.

The details

In the First Four matchup, Missouri State jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout the game, leading by as many as 15 points in the second half. Bekemeier and Douglas were dominant inside, combining for 36 points and 23 rebounds to pace the Lady Bears' offense. Stephen F. Austin made a late push to cut the deficit, but Missouri State held on for the 10-point victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 19, 2026.
  • Missouri State will face Texas in the Round of 64 on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Kaemyn Bekemeier

A standout forward for the Missouri State Lady Bears, Bekemeier led the team with 22 points and 13 rebounds in the First Four victory.

Lainie Douglas

The Missouri State forward contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lady Bears advance in the NCAA Tournament.

Texas

The top-seeded Texas Longhorns will face Missouri State in the Round of 64 after the Lady Bears' First Four win.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to have the opportunity to take on a powerhouse program like Texas. Our team is ready for the challenge and we're going to give it our all on Friday.”

— Kaemyn Bekemeier, Missouri State Forward

What’s next

The winner of the Missouri State-Texas matchup in the Round of 64 will advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Missouri State's First Four victory over Stephen F. Austin demonstrates the program's ability to compete at the highest level of women's college basketball, setting up an intriguing showdown with top-seeded Texas in the next round of the NCAA Tournament.