CANCUN, Mexico -- The Missouri State Lady Bears picked up their third consecutive victory Saturday (Dec. 20) afternoon with a 77-68 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to wrap up their stay at the Caribbean Classic and close out the non-conference portion of their schedule. Freshman guard Casey Garrison’s 24-point effort led all scorers, as the Lady Bears posted a season-best shooting performance for the second consecutive day at the Moon Palace Resort.

Garrison, who also registered five rebounds, four assists and three steals, finished the afternoon 10-of-17 from the floor, while three other Lady Bears also notched double-digit scoring days. Maggie Dwyer and Jacque Griggs each contributed 12 points to the MSU attack, and Jaleshia Roberson chipped in 10 to go along with four assists.

Missouri State’s .500 shooting afternoon narrowly eclipsed its 49.1 percent effort from the field posted in Friday’s 82-63 victory over Stephen F. Austin. The Lady Bears buried season-highs of 28 field goals and seven three-pointers to give head coach Nyla Milleson her 200th career victory.. 

The strong offensive showing came on the heels of a rough start to the contest, as the Lady Bears struggled to find an offensive rhythm early, missing their first three shots from the field and failing to put any points on the board until the 15:31 mark when Garrison knocked down a 15-foot pull-up jumper.

Chattanooga meanwhile came out firing, as the Lady Mocs’ Erin Ogan converted her first three tries from the floor to help stake UTC to an early 9-0 advantage. But Garrison’s basket sparked a 15-5 spurt over a four and-a-half minute stretch that gave MSU its first lead of the afternoon. Chattanooga would respond by scoring 10 of the next 14 points, including six straight from junior forward Shanara Hollinquest, to reclaim a five-point lead.

Missouri State then went to work from long range, using a trio of three-point baskets to spark a 21-6 outburst to close out the half. Garrison’s triple at the 7:02 mark started the run and her second three with 4:47 to play gave MSU a lead it would never relinquish. Garrison would add two more baskets before the end of the half to help the Lady Bears push their lead to as many as 11 before settling for a 40-30 cushion heading into the locker room.

Griggs opened the second half on a strong note, scoring the Lady Bears first six points to extend the lead to 12 points. After the Lady Mocs managed to trim the deficit to 50-40 with 14:34 to play, Missouri State again went to its long-distance shooters to provide some breathing room. Melissa Busby was successful on the second of her three treys on the day at the 14:13 mark, and Roberson canned her second three with just over 12 minutes left as part of a 14-5 spurt that would culminate in a 64-45 advantage when Dwyer completed an old-fashioned three-pointer with 10:30 to go.

Chattanooga would never get any closer than the nine-point final margin, as the Lady Bears were once again solid from the foul line, converting 8-of-11 second-half charity tosses and 14-of-19 (.737) from the stripe for the game.

Ogan led UTC (8-5) with 16 points and was one of two Lady Mocs to post double-doubles, finishing with 10 rebounds as well. Hollinquest totaled 14 points, 13 boards, four assists and three steals.

The Lady Bears return home to open the Missouri Valley Conference season following a 13-day break. MSU will welcome the UNI Panthers to JQH Arena Jan. 2 for a 7:05 p.m. contest to open MVC play.