SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Drake women's basketball team fell to Missouri State, 80-77, in a wild finish Saturday afternoon at John Q. Hammons Arena. Kyndal Clark (Webb City, Mo.) scored a career-high 26 points and the Bulldogs connected on a season-high 11 three-pointers.

Mary Pat Specht (Shawnee, Kan.), making her second career start, scored a career-high 18 points behind a career-best five three-pointers. Stephanie Running (Oak Creek, Wis.) had 12 points off the bench for Drake (5-11, 0-5 MVC).

Missouri State (9-7, 1-3 MVC) led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but ended up having to rally from a six-point deficit for its first conference win of the season. Whitney Edie led the Lady Bears with a 25-points and 10-rebound double-double.

"Anytime you go on someone else's floor its tough and this place especially," Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. "The last time Missouri State lost her was the first game of the year to Oklahoma State, who is a top-25 program. Credit Missouri State's players, who stepped up and had some nice performances today."

Playing just 71 miles from her hometown of Webb City, Mo., Clark made two free throws to put Drake ahead, 77-76, with 30 seconds left in the contest. On Missouri State's next possession, Edie was fouled and the senior missed both free throws, but MSU's Bry Snow rebounded the miss and her putback put MSU ahead, 78-77, with 13 seconds to play.

Running, who finished 5-of-6 from the floor, had a jumper that missed its mark on Drake's next possession. Edie rebounded the ball and was immediately fouled by Clark. Edie made both free throws this time to give Missouri State an 80-77 lead with 4.6 seconds left in the game. The Bulldogs had one last chance as Clark drove the length of the floor but her three-point attempt was blocked by Kenzie Williams who tightly contested the shot at the buzzer.

MSU rallied back after Morgan Reid's (Kansas City, Mo.) jumper with 3:06 remaining gave Drake its largest lead of the game, 75-69. A 7-0 run by the Lady Bears capped by Snow's jumper gave the Lady Bears the lead at 76-75 with 46 seconds left in the contest.

"Major credit to Mary Pat Specht today who stepped up with some big three pointers and those three free throws she made when she was fouled on another attempt," Baranczyk said. "She did a great job on the defensive end as well. Another game changer was Kyndal Clark, who stepped in and played some very valuable minutes. Credit Stephanie Running, who came off the bench today and was nearly perfect. I know she wishes she had that last attempt at the end back but it was a tough look."

The game featured 14 lead changes and five ties. The Bulldogs were 27-of-59 (46 percent) from the floor and 11-of-20 (55 percent) from behind the arc.

Drake travels to Wichita State Monday, Jan. 21 for its next contest. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at Charles Koch Arena.