Missouri State Women Rout Southeast Missouri 77-40
Missouri State opened its season with a 77-40 win over Southeast Missouri State, scoring 48 points in the paint.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Missouri State's women's basketball team defeated Southeast Missouri State 77-40 on November 2, 2026, improving to 1-0 on the season. Thirteen different Bears scored, led by Lainie Douglas with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
Why it matters
The win gives Missouri State an early-season start built on interior scoring and defensive pressure, rather than perimeter shooting. The game offers an early look at the depth the team will rely on as it moves into a road stretch against Wyoming and Wichita State.
Missouri State forced 18 turnovers that led to 27 points and scored 48 paint points and 15 second-chance points, while its bench contributed 39 points. Its 2-for-12 mark from behind the arc shows the win came inside rather than from long range, and the extraction does not say whether that pattern will hold.
The players
Lainie Douglas
Lainie Douglas is a Missouri State guard who led the Bears with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the season opener.
Nevaeh Lucious
Nevaeh Lucious is a Missouri State player who scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the win over Southeast Missouri State.
The details
Missouri State took advantage of the paint and attacked the lane, while on-ball defensive pressure from Landon Forbes and JaNyla Bush forced turnovers. Nevaeh Lucious added 9 points and 5 rebounds, and Hailey Buckman led Southeast Missouri State with 32 minutes played, finishing with 5 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Before tip-off, a banner honoring the program's Conference USA Tournament title was unveiled.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Missouri State defeats Southeast Missouri State 77-40.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 8 p.m.: Missouri State plays Wyoming on the road.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 11 a.m.: Missouri State plays Wichita State on the road.
Season Trajectory
The opening win sets the tone for a season that begins with a road-heavy stretch, as Missouri State faces Wyoming and Wichita State within the next ten days. Early results against non-conference opponents will shape how the team is viewed as it enters conference play.
Fans following the team can track the early schedule, with two road games in the next ten days against Wyoming and Wichita State. The opener's balanced scoring across 13 players matters for fantasy and roster planning as the rotation settles.
The takeaway
Missouri State's opener showed that depth and interior scoring can carry a team even without outside shooting. Watching whether the Bears keep that balance on the road will be the next useful test.
What happens next
Missouri State plays Wyoming on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 8 p.m. and Wichita State on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 11 a.m., both on the road.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage from Springfield.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Springfield News-Leader.
