WICHITA FALLS, Texas – A strong season is expected from the Midwestern State Mustangs in 2012-13 as MSU was tabbed third in the annual Lone Star Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll released today by the league.
Midwestern, who returns eight players from last year's 19-8 squad that finished fourth in the LSC at 15-5, received 262 total points and a first-place ballot in the poll of conference head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Defending LSC and Tournament Champion Tarleton State (23-9, 17-3 LSC) was the overwhelming favorite with 20 of 31 first-place ballots and 323 points. West Texas A&M recorded seven first-place votes with 303 points, while Angelo State followed the Mustangs with 212 points and a pair of first-place votes.
Incarnate Word (211 points) was chosen fifth, followed by Texas Woman's (176), Abilene Christian (170 and a first-place nod), and Cameron (157). Texas A&M-Kingsville (98), Eastern New Mexico (93) and Texas A&M-Commerce (41) rounded out the poll.
It's the highest position in the preseason poll for Midwestern in a decade, when MSU was tabbed to win the LSC South in 2002-03.
Abilene Christian's Mackenzie Lankford was honored as the LSC Preseason Player of the Year.
2012 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
Preseason Player of the Year
Mackenzie Langford, Abilene Christian
| Place |
Team (1st-place votes) |
Total |
| 1 |
Tarleton State (20) |
323 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M (7) |
303 |
| 3 |
Midwestern State (1) |
262 |
| 4 |
Angelo State (2) |
212 |
| 5 |
Incarnate Word |
211 |
| 6 |
Texas Woman's |
176 |
| 7 |
Abilene Christian (1) |
170 |
| 8 |
Cameron |
157 |
| 9 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
98 |
| 10 |
Eastern New Mexico |
93 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
41 |
MUSTANGS ANNOUNCE 2012-13 SLATE
The Mustangs hit the competitive hardwood starting Nov. 4, when they play their only exhibition game of the year at the Big 12 Conference's Texas Tech.
MSU opens the season on Friday evening, Nov. 9 against McMurry, a new member of the Heartland Conference transitioning into Division II. The contest begins at 7 p.m. It's the first of 14 games for the Mustangs women at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The Mustangs follow that contest the following weekend by hosting McMurry, Colorado Mines and Fort Lewis in the Ashbrook Classic presented by Comfort Inn, Nov. 16-17.
MSU has two other non-conference contests, the first at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 25. The second is at home against Texas-Permian Basin on Dec. 15 as the first game of a doubleheader with the MSU men.
Then comes the Lone Star Conference schedule that has the Mustangs facing each school home and away.
There is a change in game times at home this season. While the Comfort Inn Ashbrook Classic has games at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, there are new doubleheader times for MSU. For games during the week, the MSU women will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. to start the twinbill. Saturday doubleheaders have the Mustangs tipping off at 4 p.m.
GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS
Midwestern State basketball season tickets go on sale to the public beginning Nov. 5.
The cost of season tickets ranges from $130-190 for reserved sections, while general admission season tickets are $80 a seat. Season tickets include each of the women's and men's games under the dome in 2012-13.
The Mustangs ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in attendance in 2011-12 averaging 1,750 fans per game.
Last year's season ticket holders have until Fri., Nov. 2 to renew and purchase previous seat locations.
Tickets are available online at MSUMustangs.com, at the MSU Athletics office in Ligon Coliseum or by calling (940) 397-4779.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
