WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State was at a crossroads Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Texas Woman's University erased an 11-point deficit over the final seven minutes of the contests and momentum was rolling the Pioneers way.

But the Mustangs responded with a Kirsti Degelia put back in traffic and a tough inside layup by Nolisha Markham to snap a two-game skid with a solid 67-62 Lone Star Crossover win.

"We executed what we needed to do down the stretch," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "That's the heart and the hustle that I need to see every day."

Markham, who was making her first start of the season, was the lynch pin scoring 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half while pulling down nine rebounds - all but one in the first half.

The senior from Tulsa connected on pair of free throws and converted a layup at the 7:56 mark to key a 7-0 run as the Mustangs led 55-44 after Savannah Carver completed a traditional three-point play with 7:16 to go.

But the Pioneers wouldn't go away and used a 7-0 run of their own to claw back to within 56-53 with 4:04 remaining to play.

Freshman guard Rebekah Cluley, who finished with a solid all-around line of seven points, eight rebounds and five assists, knocked down a trey from the right corner to stem the run.

TWU kept coming as Jeanee' Thompson, who finished with a team-high 11 points and six rebounds, scored four points in a 6-0 Pioneer run as Texas Woman's knotted the game at 59-59 with 1:56 to play.

That's when Degelia squeezed her 5-8 frame between defenders to snag an offensive carom then converted in traffic to allow the Mustangs to regain the lead.

The Mustangs pushed the lead back to 63-59 on Markham conversion in the paint before Cierra Thompson knocked down four consecutive free throws to put away the win for MSU.

Thompson matched Markham with team-high honors by scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and added six rebounds.

"We need to continue to turn the corner and wake the sleeping giant that I know is in us and just go ahead and start tearing people apart," Johnson said. "That's what you want your kids to do every day."

Midwestern, which improved to 3-5 on the season, plays host to Texas A&M-Commerce Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

TWU fell to 7-5.