SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 9, 2026)--In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, the Morgan State Lady Bears defeated the Missouri State University Bears with a final score of 254.170 to 254.155 on Thursday evening to spoil the host Bears' Senior Night at Hammons Student Center.
The Lady Bears (5-3) concluded the second annual "Battle of the Bears" match-up earning their second consecutive win in the event. The victory also put an exclamation point on the end of what was a historic regular season. Morgan State, which closed out the 2026 campaign winning five of its last six contests, would set school records for overall wins (5) and consecutive wins (4).
Missouri State fell to 3-5 on the year and ended the season with three consecutive losses.
The Lady Bears came out swinging in the first half, setting a physical and confident tone for the meet. They opened with a solid 37.400 in the compulsory event. The highlight of the opening rotation was the compulsory pyramid, where the Lady Bears hit a season-high score of 9.800, signaling their growth and precision this year.
The momentum stayed with Morgan State as they moved into the acro event. Showing remarkable consistency, the team executed back-to-back clean performances, earning identical scores of 8.950 in both Heat 2 and Heat 3.
Heading into the half, the Lady Bears' upward trajectory continued into the pyramid event. A standout performance in Heat 3 earned Morgan State a 9.700, pushing their halftime total to a formidable 90.500, while Missouri State had 92.200 points.
As the second half commenced, the Lady Bears stayed aggressive in a neck-and-neck battle. In the toss event, they showcased their technical range, capped off by a strong 9.300 in Heat 3. This performance brought the running meet total to a tight 117.300, keeping them within striking distance of Missouri State's 119.100.
The tumbling pass event became a showcase for individual excellence, as the Lady Bears executed some of their most difficult passes of the season:
● Marissa Jett delivered a stunning 9.525 in the aerial pass.
●
Niani Anderson followed with a sharp, high-energy 9.450 in the 6-element pass.
●
Kayla Bryant anchored the rotation with a poised 9.425 to close out the event.
These elite individual scores propelled the Lady Bears to an event total of 170.200, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in the final team event.
With the meet on the line, Morgan State dominated the team event. The Lady Bears outscored Missouri State 86.470 to 83.380, erasing the deficit and securing the narrow victory. This final push solidified the 254.170-254.155 win.
sending the Lady Bears into the post-season with massive momentum.
"I am extremely proud of the team after a tough season and being only in our third year, it feels amazing to come off with a win," stated head coach Agina Simpkins.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit
www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bear athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified
high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's
Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus
designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit
www.morgan.edu.
