The Standard

Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Carly Wilburn

Missouri State's women's basketball team achieved something it had not done since the end of the 2005-2006: it won three consecutive games.

Missouri State beat Northern Iowa 78-55 on the road Thursday night to move the Lady Bears to 5-11 and 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The win snapped a 15-game road losing streak and prevented the Lady Bears from losing 10 conference road games in a row.

"We're not going to be satisfied with one road-trip win," head coach Nyla Milleson said in the postgame radio interview. "That streak is over now, and we don't have to talk about it anymore."

The Lady Bears came out of the gate in sluggish fashion, shooting 1 for 13. They trailed 12-4 to start the game, and Milleson said the cold shooting compared to play at the beginning of the season.

"We actually got pretty good shots to start the game," Milleson said. "We've been in those situations before, (missing good shots). The difference (in tonight) is that we went down on the other end and played defense."

Missouri State led 32-28 at halftime after shooting 5 for 12 from 3-point range. Milleson said she told the team at halftime to beat someone by 20, and the Lady Bears responded by starting the second half on a 16-2 run to lead 48-30.

"I thought we got great contribution from all 10 kids," Milleson said. "We talked about being up four and not playing good."

After the 1 for 13 start from the field, the Lady Bears still managed to shoot 50 percent for the game. After the drought, the Lady Bears' field goal percentage was 62 percent. Northern Iowa shot 36 percent from the field.

Tahnee Balerio lead the team with 19 points and 10 assists. She was 5 for 7 from 3-point range and recorded two steals.

"She was very good tonight," Milleson said. "She's being a great floor general and getting us into things we need to be in."

Milleson said Balerio is a balanced point guard who has been making great decisions lately.

"The biggest difference in Tahnee is her understanding of when we need to push and when we need to get in the half-court sets," Milleson said.

Milleson said the Lady Bears had defensive letdowns on the road this season. She said it has been hard for the team to get fired up without the home fans.

Continued...

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