by NORMAL, Ill. – Brice Calip (Mvskoke Creek) hit a driving layup with 1.4 seconds left Saturday afternoon at Redbird Arena for a 73-72 Missouri State victory, helping the 23rd-ranked Lady Bears rally to win from a 16-point deficit for the second time this season.
Calip, who just 13 days ago hit three free throws with 0.8 seconds on the clock for a one-point win at Valparaiso, was the hero again, taking the in-bounds pass just inside half court and driving straight to the bucket for an off-balance shot that found the bottom of the net despite the foul.
The senior finished with 11 points while matching a career-high with eight assists as Missouri State improved to 13-2 overall and 9-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play with its ninth consecutive win both on the road and overall.
The Redbirds (10-6, 7-6) had early runs of 13-0 and 12-0 and made 14 of their first 19 shots to lead 33-17 with 6:21 until halftime, and Missouri State whittled the deficit to 40-29 at intermission and 46-43 with 4:38 left in the third quarter on Jasmine Franklin’s 3-point play.
Elle Ruffridge tied the game at 59-all with 6:40 remaining on her third 3-pointer of the contest, and Sydney Manning gave MSU its first lead since the opening minute 46 seconds later.
The Lady Bears led 64-61 on a Calip free throw with 3:56 left, but the Redbirds hit a pair of treys in the next three minutes on the way to a 70-66 advantage. Manning buried a 3-pointer with 23.4 left and Sydney Wilson stole the ensuing in-bounds pass and scored for a 71-70 lead. Illinois State’s JuJu Redmond put the Redbirds ahead 72-71 with 4.4 ticks remaining to set up Calip’s heroics.
Missouri State shot 43 percent in the game after an 11-for-17 shooting performance in the fourth quarter and won 35-32 on the glass. Franklin led the scoring with 15 points, Ruffridge scored 13 and Abby Hipp added 12. Franklin added seven rebounds and three steals.
