SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Alex Harden scored 31 points to tie a career high, had five rebounds and seven assists as the Shockers defeated Missouri State 71-59 on Friday at the JQH Arena.

Jamilliah Bonner also scored in double figures with 19 points of her own.

The Shockers shot 49.2 percent (29-59) and committed only eight turnovers compared to 16 for MSU. Lady Bears shot 45.5 percent (20-44) overall and 15-for-25 at the foul line, while WSU made seven of its 10 free throw shots.

Wichita State (12-3, 3-0 MVC) scored the game's first four points and led 20-12 eight minutes into the contest thanks to an 8-for-14 shooting start. The Lady Bears (4-10, 1-2) countered with a 9-0 run for a 21-20 lead, beginning with a layup and 3-pointer from NiJay Gaines, an Audrey Holt layup and two Kenzie Williams free throws at the 8:50 mark.

The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions with Tyonna Snow's layup putting MSU up 23-22 with 8:12 to play, but Missouri State's two brief leads held for a combined 48 seconds as the Shockers quickly regained the upper hand on baskets by Alie Decker and Kelsey Jacobs.

Hillary Chvatal hit a baseline jumper with 5:59 to play for a 26-all tie, but the Lady Bears hit just three free throws the rest of the half and WSU went on an 11-3 run as the Shockers took a 37-29 lead into intermission.

Out of the break, Williams ended MSU's seven-minute field goal drought with a layup for a 37-31 deficit with 18:55 on the clock, but WSU and MVC Preseason Player of the Year Alex Harden again had the answer with a 3-pointer for a 45-34 advantage with 16:14 remaining. Harden finished with a game-high and career-high-tying 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting.

The Shockers led 55-42 with 11:09 to play when the Lady Bears cut the gap to 57-53 over the next two-plus minutes with an 11-2 run. Williams converted a 3-point play and buried a trey from the left wing during the run, and freshman Aubrey Buckley's steal and layup had the Lady Bears within four points with 8:47 left in the game.

WSU was back ahead by double digits three minutes later after Jamillah Bonner's 3-pointer from the corner put the Shockers up 66-55 with 5:49 to play, and the Shockers' lead remained at nine points or better for the remainder of the contest.

Williams scored 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting to lead MSU, while Gaines and Snow added 12 apiece. Gaines grabbed a game-high seven boards as MSU won the rebounding battle, 33-30.

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