Missouri State Lady Bears Punch Ticket to NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Face Stephen F. Austin in First Four

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri State Lady Bears (22-12) are heading to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, earning a No. 16 seed and a First Four matchup against Stephen F. Austin (25-9) on Wednesday, March 18, in Austin, Texas. The winner will advance to face No. 1 seed and host Texas on Friday, March 20.

Lady Bears Win Conference USA Championship

Missouri State secured its automatic berth into the tournament by winning the Conference USA Tournament championship, defeating La Tech in the final game. This marks the Lady Bears’ 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and extends their postseason streak to 11 consecutive years. Missouri State won the Conference USA Tournament title in its first year in the league, upsetting the top three seeds in the process. The Lady Bears finished tied for third in the regular season (11-7) and entered the conference tournament as the No. 6 seed before capturing their 12th tournament crown in program history.

Key Players to Watch

Republic High School graduate Kaemyn Bekemeier leads the Lady Bears in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Lanie Douglas contributes 13.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Tournament Schedule and Location

The First Four game against Stephen F. Austin will be played in Austin, Texas. Game time and television broadcast details will be announced at a later date. Regional play is scheduled for March 27-30 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four will be held April 3 and 5 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Missouri State’s Tournament History

Missouri State boasts a 19-17 overall record in NCAA Tournament play, with two Final Four appearances in program history. This is the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Bears since 2021-22.

Stephen F. Austin’s Season

Stephen F. Austin enters the tournament with a 25-9 record, having won the Southland Conference championship. According to ESPN Analytics, Stephen F. Austin has a 61.8% chance of winning against Missouri State.

Ticket Information

Fans interested in ticket information can fill out the 2026 Women’s Basketball Postseason NCAA Tournament Ticket Interest Form here.