SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Balanced scoring and pressure defense helped the Missouri State Lady Bears defeat the Drake University women's basketball team, 86-57, in Missouri Valley Conference play Sunday afternoon at JQH Arena.

Sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) led Drake (18-9, 13-3 MVC) with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) added 12 points while freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) had nine points and nine rebounds.

Missouri State (14-13, 11-5 MVC) was paced by redshirt junior Kenzie Williams' game-high 16 points while Des Moines native and senior Nijay Gaines scored 11 points in her final home game.

The Bulldogs committed a season-high 29 turnovers that led to 37 points for the Lady Bears. The two teams combined for 22 three-pointers with Drake hitting nine and Missouri State hitting 13.

Drake won the opening tip-off as Wendell calmly knocked in a three-pointer from the right wing to give Drake a 3-0 lead. Later freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) made a three-pointer to extend Drake's advantage to 8-5. Dean finished the game with eight points.

The Bulldogs then endured a nearly 5-minute long scoring drought that included four turnovers as the Lady Bears swung the momentum their way, taking a 15-8 lead before Jonas ended the drought with a jumper to make the score, 15-10.

Missouri State extended its lead back to six points at 19-13, but consecutive three-pointers by Jonas and freshman Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) trimmed Drake's deficit to 21-19 with 10:44 to play in the half.

Missouri State used a 26-7 scoring run to close the half as the Bulldogs struggled to score and protect the ball. Drake committed 17 turnovers, a season-high for a first half, as Missouri State scored 20 points off the mistakes in the opening half.

Wendell sank another three-pointer at the 16:06 mark in the second half for the Bulldogs first points of the final period. Missouri State stretched its lead to 39 points with 2:30 remaining before Drake ended the game on a game on a 10-0 scoring run.

Drake hosts its final regular season games this week at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs welcome the Bradley Braves Thursday, March 5 at 7:05 p.m. before hosting the Loyola Ramblers on Saturday, March 7 at 2:05 p.m. A senior recognition for Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.), Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Cara Lutes (Maplewood, Minn.) and Bry Mueller (DePere, Wis.) will take place after the game on Saturday.