No. 22 Missouri St women pull away from Wichita St 68-55

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Alexa Willard scored 14 points, Jasmine Franklin had a double-double and No. 21 Missouri State started a 19-2 run late in the third quarter en route to a 68-55 win over Wichita State on Wednesday night.

Brice Calip had 12 points for the Bears (8-1), who won their fourth straight, and Franklin had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bears, in the Top 25 for the first time this season, got four free throws from Elle Ruffridge in the final minute of the third quarter to go on top 45-40. Four more free throws before a 3-pointer from Sydney Wilson pushed the lead to 52-40 two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Mariah McCully's jumper ended the drought for the Shockers but Franklin and Willard combined for the next eight points for a 60-42 Missouri State lead.

Wichita State reeled off the next 10 points after going 1-of-13, to close within nine with 2:21 to play but the Bears calmly closed it out.

Maybe Brewer led Wichita State (4-3) with career-high 14 points and McCully had 13. The Shockers went 0 for 10 from 3-point range five days after going 12 for 22 in a win over Oklahoma that ran their winning streak to four.

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