Missouri St. 64, Indiana St. 55

3/12/2006 7:53 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Kari Koch scored 17 points, leading Missouri State to the Missouri Valley Conference title and an automatic NCAA berth with a 64-55 upset over Indiana State on Sunday.

Tahnee Balerio had 15 points for seventh-seeded Missouri State (17-14), which beat the top-seeded Sycamores (26-5). Sarah Klaassen had 13 points and Tiff Terwelp added 10 for Missouri State, which had to win four games to reach the NCAA tournament.

Koch, the tournament's most valuable player, scored 13 points in the final 5:58.

Melanie Boeglin led Indiana State with 18 points and Laura Randolph had 14.

Indiana State led 47-39 with 6:31 left before Missouri State went on a 25-8 run to close the game. Missouri State's Breton Wyatt made four straight free throws to tie the game, then put the Bears ahead for good at 51-49 with 2:20 left.

Indiana State scored only one field goal over a 4-minute span when Missouri State hit 14-of-16 free throws, including nine by Koch.