SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — A surging Missouri State squad will look to extend its home-court advantage against a struggling Western Kentucky team when the Lady Bears host the Lady Toppers in a Conference USA women’s basketball matchup Saturday at JQH Arena.

Missouri State (14-8 overall) enters on a strong note, having won four of its last five games, including a 60-54 victory over Middle Tennessee on Thursday. The Lady Bears are 9-2 at home this season. Western Kentucky (5-16) seeks to halt a five-game losing streak, most recently an 80-54 road loss to Florida International on Thursday.

The game features a compelling backcourt matchup. Missouri State is powered by junior guard Kaemyn Bekemeier, who is averaging 21.4 points over her last five contests. She erupted for 25 points in the win over Middle Tennessee and scored 31 in a Jan. 10 victory over Jacksonville State. Her scoring prowess will be central to the Lady Bears’ attack.

Western Kentucky will counter with senior guard Trinity Rowe, the Lady Toppers’ most consistent offensive threat. Rowe is coming off a 17-point performance at FIU and has scored in double figures in six of her last seven games, including a 14-point, 6-assist effort at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 17. Containing Bekemeier and generating enough support for Rowe will be critical for the visitors.

The teams represent two divergent trajectories. Missouri State sits firmly in the upper tier of the conference standings, while Western Kentucky has found victories scarce, with just one win since Jan. 10. The Lady Toppers have particularly struggled on the road, where they are 1-10 this season.

This contest is the first of a regular-season series, with the rematch scheduled for March 5 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. For now, the Lady Bears aim to protect their home floor and improve their conference positioning, while the Lady Toppers desperately seek a momentum-shifting result to salvage their season. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Central Time on Saturday.