Missouri State Vs Texas as the Round of 64 arrives in Austin
missouri state vs texas is now on deck in the women’s NCAA Tournament after Missouri State advanced out of the First Four in Austin, setting up a Round of 64 matchup with top-seeded Texas on Friday.
What Happens When Missouri State Vs Texas follows a First Four statement?
Missouri State earned the right to move on with an 85-75 win over Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday night at the women’s First Four. Kaemyn Bekemeier delivered 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Lainie Douglas added 14 points and 10 rebounds in a game where Missouri State’s overall execution held despite miscues.
Missouri State shot 48% (33-of-69) and won the rebounding battle 50-30. The Lady Bears also committed 19 turnovers, which Stephen F. Austin converted into 22 points, a reminder that possession control remains a swing factor as the competition level rises.
The game’s decisive stretch came late in the first half, when Missouri State used a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. Angel Scott capped that spurt with a 3-pointer that made it 45-37 with 1: 55 left in the second quarter. Scott finished with three points and carried an additional storyline: she played two seasons for Stephen F. Austin, helping the Ladyjacks reach the 2022 NCAA tournament and the 2023 WNIT.
What If the current form holds — and what could break it?
The immediate takeaway from Missouri State’s First Four win is balance at the top and control on the glass. Bekemeier and Douglas combined for 36 points and 23 rebounds, anchoring the interior work that helped create separation. Missouri State’s ability to rebound at that rate can travel, especially against teams that punish second chances.
The counterweight is the turnover line. Nineteen giveaways in a game that still ended in a comfortable win is both encouraging and cautionary: encouraging because Missouri State overcame it, cautionary because a Round of 64 opponent may make that margin harder to survive. Stephen F. Austin turned those turnovers into 22 points; that conversion rate frames the risk when the ball security dips.
From the Stephen F. Austin side, Ashlyn Traylor-Walker scored 23 points and Aziyah Farrier added 13 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Harmanie Dominguez hit three 3-pointers and finished with nine points, extending her program record for single-season 3s made to 100, noted as the third most in Division I this season. Those details underline that Missouri State advanced despite facing a team with proven perimeter production and a dynamic scoring guard.
What Happens Next for missouri state vs texas in the Round of 64?
The bracket path is now clear: No. 16 seed Missouri State (23-12) plays top-seeded Texas in the Round of 64 on Friday. Missouri State’s tournament profile includes consistency, having won at least one game in each of its last four NCAA tournament appearances. The program is also in the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time, and this is its first appearance since 2022, when it beat Florida State 61-50 in the First Four before losing 63-56 to Ohio State in the Round of 64.
For readers tracking missouri state vs texas, the near-term question is whether Missouri State’s strengths from Wednesday — rebounding dominance, efficient shooting stretches, and multi-player contributions — can offset the areas that invite pressure, particularly turnovers. The matchup arrives immediately after an emotional and physical First Four win, a setup that often tests depth, focus, and the ability to replicate execution on short rest.
With Missouri State now through the First Four and into the main bracket, the Round of 64 brings a sharp escalation in stakes. Friday in Austin becomes the next measuring point for a No. 16 seed that just showed it can absorb mistakes, win the rebounding battle decisively, and still play its way into a marquee stage.
