SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — In a tense rematch decided in the final seconds, the Missouri State Lady Bears avenged a loss from 12 days prior by holding off a furious fourth-quarter rally from the Sam Houston Bearkats for a 60-55 victory in a Conference USA women’s basketball game Tuesday night at JQH Arena.

A crowd of 2,259 saw the Lady Bears, who led by as many as 13 points, withstand a 21-point fourth-quarter outburst from the visiting Bearkats to improve to 17-11 overall. Sam Houston, which had beaten Missouri State 74-67 on its home floor on Feb. 12, fell to 16-10.

The game turned on defense and a decisive performance from Missouri State’s Lainie Douglas. The 6-foot-3 junior from Overland Park, Kansas, dominated the paint, scoring a game-high 20 points and swatting four Sam Houston shots in just 21 minutes of action. Her presence altered countless other attempts as the Bearkats struggled to find consistent offense for three quarters.

Sam Houston’s offensive woes were stark early. The team managed only 24 points in the first half, shooting poorly against Missouri State’s aggressive defense. The Lady Bears, led by Douglas and Maiesha Washington, built a 35-24 halftime lead. Washington, a 6-foot guard from Fayetteville, Arkansas, finished with 13 points and four assists, providing crucial secondary scoring.

The Bearkats’ leading scorer, Fanta Kone, was relentlessly hounded all night. The 5-foot-7 guard from Bamako, Mali, still managed 12 points, three assists, a block and three steals in a full 40 minutes, but her shooting efficiency was hampered by the Lady Bears’ defensive focus. Aysia Ward-Strong of Dallas added 10 points for Sam Houston, while Annika Corcoran of Chardon, Ohio, chipped in 11.

Missouri State maintained a comfortable margin through the third quarter, leading 46-34 heading into the final period. The game appeared to be slipping away from Sam Houston, but the Bearkats mounted a characteristic surge. Applying full-court pressure, they forced Missouri State into a series of turnovers and began to chip away at the lead.

A 3-pointer by Corcoran with 6:25 remaining cut the deficit to 49-47, sending a wave of tension through the arena. The Bearkats had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead in the ensuing minutes but could not convert crucial shots against Missouri State’s tightened defense.

With the score 55-53 and under two minutes to play, Douglas delivered the final, critical blows for the Lady Bears. She was fouled on a strong move inside and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four. After a Sam Houston miss, she secured a defensive rebound on the next possession, essentially sealing the outcome.

Sam Houston was forced to foul in the final seconds, and Missouri State’s Maycee James and Maiesha Washington made enough free throws to keep the Bearkats at bay. A last-second 3-pointer by Sam Houston’s Whitney Dunn, who finished with nine points, provided the final margin but came with no time left for further comeback attempts.

The victory was a pivotal one for Missouri State in the Conference USA standings, solidifying its position after splitting the season series with Sam Houston. The Lady Bears’ ability to protect their home court and execute down the stretch against a relentless opponent provided a signature win for their postseason resume.

For Sam Houston, the loss marked a second consecutive narrow defeat following a 69-68 loss at Jacksonville State on Saturday. The Bearkats’ late rally showcased their resilience but also highlighted the offensive struggles that plagued them for too long against Missouri State’s formidable interior defense, anchored by Douglas.

Both teams return to Conference USA action later this week. Missouri State hosts Florida International on Thursday, while Sam Houston returns home to face Louisiana Tech on Saturday.