SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — Kaemyn Bekemeier scored 21 points and Kendal Brueggen ignited a decisive fourth-quarter surge as the Missouri State Lady Bears pulled away from the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers for a 75-52 victory in a Conference USA women’s basketball game Saturday at JQH Arena.

A crowd of 2,641 watched the Lady Bears improve to 15-8 overall, while Western Kentucky fell to 5-17.

The game’s pivotal sequence came early in the fourth quarter, transforming what had been a competitive contest into a comfortable Missouri State win. Leading 49-47 entering the final period, the Lady Bears opened with a 14-2 run over the first five minutes, fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense. Brueggen, who finished with 16 points, was central to the burst, hitting a layup and a three-pointer during the stretch. Lainie Douglas, who added 10 points and eight rebounds, also contributed a pair of free throws.

Western Kentucky, which had shown resilience by erasing an 18-point first-quarter deficit to trail by just two after three quarters, went ice cold during the Missouri State run. The Lady Toppers managed only a single field goal in the first six minutes of the fourth, missing seven consecutive shots at one point as the Lady Bears built a 63-49 lead from which Western Kentucky never recovered.

The game began in stark contrast to its finish. Missouri State dominated the opening quarter, racing to a 21-3 lead behind hot three-point shooting. Bekemeier, a 5-foot-9 guard from Republic, Missouri, hit three of her game-high four three-pointers in the first period. The Lady Bears shot 10 of 18 from beyond the arc for the game, a 55.6% clip that proved insurmountable.

Western Kentucky, however, refused to fold. The Lady Toppers responded with a 24-point second quarter, outscoring Missouri State 24-12 behind improved ball movement and scoring from Zsófia Telegdy and Mya Pratcher. They trimmed the lead to 33-27 at halftime and continued to chip away in the third, closing the gap to 47-45 on a Salma Khedr jumper with 35 seconds left in the period.

But the Lady Bears’ fourth-quarter explosion extinguished the comeback. Missouri State’s offensive balance and superior shooting ultimately told the story. Beyond Bekemeier and Brueggen, Faith Lee added 10 points off the bench. The Lady Bears shot 41.1% from the field and converted 19 of 23 free throws.

Western Kentucky was led by Khedr and Telegdy, who each scored 10 points. Telegdy, a 6-3 forward from Budapest, Hungary, also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots. Pratcher added nine points. The Lady Toppers struggled offensively overall, shooting just 36.5% from the field and 25% from three-point range. They were also hampered by 14 turnovers, which Missouri State converted into 15 points.

Missouri State’s defensive effort in the paint was key, matching Western Kentucky’s 20 points inside while also contesting perimeter shots effectively. The Lady Bears also won the rebounding battle on the offensive glass, 12-7, leading to 11 second-chance points.

The win keeps Missouri State in the upper tier of the Conference USA standings as they head into a road trip next week at Sam Houston and Louisiana Tech. Western Kentucky returns home looking to snap a three-game skid when they host Kennesaw State on Thursday. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on March 5.