16-10,9-6CUSA
Missouri State
17-11,9-6CUSA
Bears take down the Kats
2/24/2026 10:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sam Houston Bearkats dropped their second straight road game Tuesday night, falling 60-55 to the Missouri State Bears at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The Bearkats (16-10, 9-6 CUSA) trailed by eight at the end of the first quarter. After Missouri State (17-11, 9-6 CUSA) extended its lead to 16 midway through the third quarter, Sam Houston mounted a second-half rally and cut the deficit to five in the final two minutes. However, foul trouble and timely offense from the Bears prevented the comeback.
Fanta Kone led the Bearkats with 12 points, two rebounds, and three assists, marking her sixth straight double-figure scoring performance. Annika Corcoran and Nyla Inmon added 11 points apiece. Corcoran hit one of the team's two 3-pointers and grabbed three defensive rebounds, while Inmon secured six rebounds for her sixth consecutive double-digit scoring effort.
Aysia Ward-Strong contributed 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the battle on the glass. The game marked the seventh time this season that Sam Houston has had four or more players score in double figures. Whitney Dunn knocked down the Bearkats' second 3-pointer in the final minute, finishing with nine points to trim the deficit to five.
Missouri State outscored Sam Houston 46-34 across the second and third quarters combined, building a 16-point advantage before the Bearkats responded with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring the Bears 21-14 in the final period.
Defensively, Sam Houston recorded 12 steals, led by Kone's fou, leaving her one shy of 90 on the season. Corcoran and Esther Rodellar added three steals each. The Bearkats forced 24 turnovers and converted them into 18 points but committed 19 turnovers of their own, allowing Missouri State to maintain control down the stretch.
With the loss, Sam Houston falls into a tie for fourth place in conference play with three games remaining.
UP NEXT
Sam Houston returns to Johnson Coliseum on Saturday to host regular-season champion La Tech in the first game of a three-game homestand.
