Women's Basketball 12/10/2010 11:08:00 PM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: Mustangs, Bulldogs to tangle in LSC crossover tilt

Setting the Stage

Midwestern state is looking to win consecutive games for the first this season in Saturday afternoon's Lone Star Conference crossover contest against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Tipoff at Rankin Williams Field house in Weatherford is set for 2 p.m.

Where to Find the Game

100.9 BOB FM - The broadcast features the play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers.
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast is simulcast on BOBradio.fm. Link
Video Streaming - Free video streaming is available courtesy of SWOSUsports.com Link

Live Stats -
Live stats are available courtesy of SWOSUsports.com. Link

About the Mustangs

Junior forward Cierra Thompson leads a trio of Mustangs averaging in double figures at 15.6 points per game.

The Llano (Texas) High product has scored at least 14 points in each of her last four games including a season-high of 23 points last week against Southeastern Oklahoma.

Thompson has worked her way to the charity stripe for average of 6.2 shots per game and has connected at a 74.2-percent clip.

Fellow junior Savannah Carver averages 14.6 points a contest and is coming off of consecutive 20-point outings last week against Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central.

True freshman point guard Kirsti Degelia joins the upperclassmen averaging 13.6 points a game. The Krum High product is coming off a season low output of nine points in 22 minutes against East Central.

Junior Jazman Patterson is the reigning LSC South Defensive Player of the Week following a 13-point, 16-rebound double-double against Southeastern Oklahoma with an 11-board outing against East Central.

Patterson has led the Mustangs in rebounding in each game this season.

About the Bulldogs

Southwestern Oklahoma suffered its first setback of the season by a 67-53 count to Tarleton State Tuesday night at Rankin Williams Field house.

The Bulldogs unexpected 6-0 start came on the heels of a 3-24 showing in 2009-10.

The turnaround is owed in large part to a pair of transfers from Fresno Community College.

Junior Sumiya Darden leads Southwestern as its inside threat with 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. The 6-1 post is shooting an efficient 56.8 percent from the field.

Returning senior guard Natasha Brown, who transferred from Fresno last season, returns to stabilize the perimeter and is scoring 10.4 points a game.

Senior forward Shanessa Smith is Brown's compliment on the block averaging 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds a contest, while sophomore guard Ashley Rush scores 8.7 points a game.

Southwestern Oklahoma averages 71.6 points a game and allows 63.3.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Southwestern Oklahoma meet for the 33rd time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at Rankin Williams Field house.

The Bulldogs own a 21-11 edge in the series which dates back to the 1978-79 season, but the Mustangs have won 10 of the last 13 meetings including a 66-58 victory last season in Wichita Falls.

Southwestern Oklahoma is 10-4 in all-time games against Midwestern played in Weatherford.

Quick Hits

Midwestern State is 8-10 in Lone Star Conference crossover games in the Noel Johnson era. The Mustangs were 3-5 in 2008-09, 4-4 in 2009-10 and are 1-1 this season. MSU is 3-5 on the road against LSC North foes over the last three seasons.
The Mustangs are third in the Lone Star Conference averaging 75.6 points per game which is stark contrast to 2009-10 when MSU was last in the league with 62 points per game average.

Midwestern is faring well in the hustle categories as the Mustangs lead the LSC in turnover margin (+8.40) and steals per game (11.2) and is third in rebounding margin at +8.0.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#24 Savannah Carver: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#25 Kirsti Degelia: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#42 Jazman Patterson: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#20 Cierra Thompson: F; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#24 Savannah Carver
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#25 Kirsti Degelia
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#42 Jazman Patterson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#20 Cierra Thompson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F