—AP Photo Pocahontas Area graduate Elle Ruffridge celebrates with her Missouri State teammates after their win over Iowa State.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Instead of Elle Ruffridge returning to Iowa, the state will come to her and the No. 20 Missouri State women’s basketball team this weekend.

The Bears square off with Drake here Friday night before hosting Northern Iowa Sunday.

Ruffridge, a former standout at Pocahontas Area, understands the importance of Missouri Valley Conference games now as a junior for Missouri State (12-2 overall, 2-0 in league).

“Friday’s game is very important for us as we move forward in the season,” Ruffridge said. “Drake is a very good basketball team and we have to come ready to play. They are picked to win the Valley this season and we feel like we have something to prove.

“Now that I have been through this time and time again, I know what to expect for each Valley team we are preparing for. Being familiar with all of the venues, routines with road trips and the style of play from each Valley team (is important) but having experience is key and definitely a crucial piece to success.”

Add in the significance of playing the Iowa schools, and Ruffridge is definitely hyped for the games.

“Playing both Drake and UNI means a little bit more to me being an Iowa kid,” she said. “I have great respect for both programs and also know many of the players, so it’s always fun to see familiar faces. This weekend is going to be a lot of fun, as I am sure many are looking forward to it.”

Missouri State made a deep run into the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 a year ago, including two games in Ames won by the Bears. Since December 2018, they are 36-5 overall, which ranks fourth nationally in total wins.

Both losses this year for Missouri State have come at the hands of ranked programs on the road. They lost to No. 3 Oregon State, 80-69, and fell to 16th-ranked Gonzaga, 64-52.

Ruffridge has played in all 14 games, including a start. She is averaging a career-high 6.4 points per game with 25 rebounds, 18 assists and seven steals.

“This season has gone really well for me,” she said. “I feel more loose as well as confident each time I step onto the court. I have put in the time and work, therefore, there is no reason to doubt myself or my abilities. I have also had the opportunity to play in some pretty incredible games so having lots of experience has helped improve my game as well.”

In November, Ruffridge scored 20 points, knocking down six 3-pointers against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Bears are led by Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, who replaced Kellie Harper after she took the Tennessee job.

This is her first head coaching job after spending the past four seasons as the associate head coach at Michigan State.

“Overall, I thought it was a very smooth transition when our new coaching staff was hired,” Ruffridge said. “From the start, there was an immediate connection between the new staff and players. Really there were not too many changes that were made.

“Sure the practices, routines and game plans are much different from previous years, but I think what has really been crucial through the adjustments is how the team has stuck together. Our team chemistry is pretty solid and when teams have that, everything seems to fall into place.”

Missouri State vs. Drake (9-4, 1-0) tips at 7 p.m. and streams live on ESPN+ with the Missouri State-UNI (8-4, 0-1) contest set for 2 p.m. on ESPN3.