{"id":123503,"date":"2026-03-14T21:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T00:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/899516818"},"modified":"2026-03-14T21:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T00:38:05","slug":"ticket-punched-missouri-state-upsets-top-seeded-louisiana-tech-to-return-to-the-ncaa-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/14\/ticket-punched-missouri-state-upsets-top-seeded-louisiana-tech-to-return-to-the-ncaa-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Ticket punched: Missouri State upsets top-seeded Louisiana Tech to return to the NCAA Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="780" height="520" data-attachment-id="200758" data-permalink="https:\/\/sgfcitizen.org\/springfield-sports\/missouri-state\/missouri-state-ncaa-tournament\/attachment\/2026-cusa-wbb-championship-lt-most-4608\/" data-orig-file="https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sgfcitizen.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2026-CUSA-WBB-Championship-LT-MOST-4608-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"9","credit":"Gregg Gelmis 256-763-0481","camera":"Canon EOS R1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1773532302","copyright":"We Run Race Photos","focal_length":"36","iso":"12800","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2026 CUSA WBB Championship LT-MOST-4608" data-image-description data-image-caption="<\/p>\n

Missouri State celebrates its Conference USA championship on Saturday at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. (Photo by Conference USA). <\/p>\n

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Missouri State celebrates its Conference USA championship on Saturday at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. (Photo by Conference USA). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First time\u2019s a charm. <\/p>\n

Missouri State\u2019s inaugural Conference USA season ended with a tournament championship on Saturday after downing top-seeded Louisiana Tech 43-38 at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama, earning a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. <\/p>\n

The Lady Bears (22-12) will learn their first-round opponent and destination on Sunday night during a 7 p.m. Selection Show on ESPN. <\/p>\n

MSU, a No. 6 seed, snapped the 19-game winning streak of Louisiana Tech (26-6) to reach its first March Madness since 2022. It can thank its defense for getting there. <\/p>\n

Louisiana Tech, which averaged 74 points a game, was held to a paltry 22.7% from the field (15 for 66) and was stymied inside as the Lady Bears totaled 12 blocks, including seven from forward Lainie Douglas. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3 sophomore continued her late-season tear by scoring 15 points to go with 11 rebounds, a near triple-double with her lofty block total. <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe didn\u2019t come this close to go out there and not give everything,\u201d Douglas said. <\/p>\n

Lainie Douglas battles inside against Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Huntsville, Alabama. (Photo by Conference USA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Louisiana Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr lauded MSU\u2019s effort. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey played really well this week,\u201d Stoehr said. \u201cTo come out today and defend the way they did, you tip a cap to them.\u201d <\/p>\n