ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The Missouri State Lady Bears used a balanced scoring attack and a dominant defensive performance to secure a 69-53 victory over the Texas-Arlington Mavericks in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at College Park Center.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Lady Bears methodically built their lead, outscoring the Mavericks in every quarter. Missouri State improved to 2-0 on the young season, while Texas-Arlington dropped to 0-2.

The game was a defensive battle from the outset, with both teams struggling to find an early rhythm. Missouri State’s Kaemyn Bekemeier, a 5-foot-9 guard from Republic, Missouri, and Faith Lee, a 5-11 guard from Monroe, Louisiana, provided the offensive firepower the Lady Bears needed. Bekemeier finished with a team-high 19 points, while Lee poured in 20, consistently finding ways to score against a formidable Texas-Arlington interior defense.

The Mavericks kept the game close through the first half, trailing by just seven points at the break. However, their offense never found a consistent flow against Missouri State’s active defense. The Lady Bears forced 18 turnovers, converting them into key scoring opportunities, and held a significant advantage on the offensive glass, pulling down nine offensive rebounds to the Mavericks’ three.

While Texas-Arlington’s defense was a bright spot, particularly their rim protection with 10 blocked shots, it was not enough to overcome their scoring woes. The Mavericks shot just 18 for 51 from the field and 3 for 12 from beyond the arc. Kira Reynolds, a 6-4 post player from South Bend, Indiana, anchored the Mavericks’ defense with six blocks and added 10 points. Jadyn Atchison, a 6-1 guard from Cedar Hill, Texas, also scored 10 points and dished out four assists for the home team.

Missouri State’s offense, while not spectacular, was more efficient. The Lady Bears shot 43.6% from the field and capitalized on their trips to the free-throw line, making 17 of 24 attempts. Beyond the scoring of Bekemeier and Lee, the Lady Bears received steady contributions from their backcourt. JaNyla Bush, a 5-3 guard from St. Louis, distributed four assists, and Maycee James, a 5-7 guard from Goddard, Kansas, led the team with six assists.

The third quarter proved pivotal as Missouri State began to stretch its lead. The Lady Bears’ defense tightened further, holding Texas-Arlington to 14 points in the period while extending their own advantage to double digits, a margin they would maintain for the remainder of the game.

The Mavericks made several pushes in the fourth quarter, but each time Missouri State had an answer, often from Lee or Bekemeier, to stifle any potential comeback. The Lady Bears sealed the game with composure from the free-throw line down the stretch.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 586 at College Park Center. Missouri State will look to continue its winning ways when it travels to face Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday. Texas-Arlington will attempt to secure its first win of the season on Tuesday when it returns home to host Wyoming.