SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Wichita State dropped a 73-62 loss to Missouri State on Friday night at JQH Arena.

WSU was led in scoring by Tamara Lee's 17 points, 14 of which came in the second half, while Keke Thompson's 12 points backed her. Angiee Tompkins added 11.

MSU was led by Liza Fruendt's 19 points that topped four double-digit MSU scorers.  

After a slow offensive start, WSU ended up shooting 40.7 percent (24-59) overall, while MSU shot 43.1 percent (25-58). MSU also won the board-battle, 40-30.

After dropping the first quarter, 18-11, WSU tied the second quarter, 11-11, and won the third quarter 20-16, but the Bears pulled away again in the fourth quarter and out-scored WSU, 28-20, to take the 11-point win, 73-62.

After a 29-22 MSU halftime lead, WSU closed the gap to 40-36 through the first seven minutes of the third quarter, and finished the frame down three, 45-42, after out-scoring MSU, 20-16, over the 10 minute period.

In the fourth, WSU was able to tie it at 47-all after a three by Tamara Lee at 8:22, but MSU went on a 7-0 run to take a 54-47 lead at 7:12. MSU tacked five more points on to the lead before WSU made a basket. WSU hit a pair of threes by Lee and Bessard down the stretch to cut MSU's largest lead from 14 to 11, but MSU kept the Shockers at bay for the win.

MSU won the first quarter, 18-11, as both teams searched to find a shooting touch as the Shockers made 5-of-15 and MSU made 6-of-14.

In the second quarter, MSU extended its largest lead to nine, 24-15, helped by a Fruendt three-pointer at the 4:29 mark.  

WSU battled back to cut the deficit to 24-22 at 2:24 after a traditional three-point play by Tompkins, but Fruendt hit her second three-pointer to put MSU up, 27-22, at 1:55.

Another basket by Fruendt was the only other score over the final 1:55, and MSU took a 29-22 halftime lead.

By halftime, WSU improved its shooting to 33.3 percent (8-24) and MSU fell to 31.3 percent (10-32). Fruendt led MSU with 13 points and Keke Thompson had six to top WSU. Eleven Shocker turnovers contributed to the seven-point deficit.

Wichita State is next in action Fri., Jan. 13 at Southern Illinois and Sun., Jan. 15 at Evansville.