SAN ANTONIO - Cierra Thompson poured in a career-high 19 points as Midwestern State edged Incarnate Word 67-66 in non-conference play Saturday afternoon at McDermott Center.

Thompson hit one-of-two free throws with 18 seconds to play as the Mustangs survived a 3-point attempt by Nia Torru to pull out a victory over the Cardinals, who claimed the Heartland Conference regular season championship by rolling through the league with a 13-1 mark.

"I told the ladies that I wish we had five more games," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "I'm so proud of them because they could have folded up the tent and given up but they believed in our coaching staff, the program and the school. They had nothing play for, but pride and momentum and they came through. For that, I am proud of them."

The Mustangs won three games for the first time since the midway point last season which included wins over two teams ranked in the South Central Regional rankings -- Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word -- and another over Angelo State.

Incarnate Word (19-8) becomes a full-time member of the Lone Star Conference next season as a member of the South Division.

Midwestern rolled out to a 21-10 when Breeanna Brown capped an 8-0 run with a jumper at the 11:28 mark of the first, but the Cardinals charged back to take a 31-30 lead on a Brittney Bennett jumper 2:05 before intermission.

But the Mustangs would get a 3-pointer from senior forward Emily Welborn right before the half to take a 36-35 lead into the second half.

Midwestern maintained a slim lead throughout much of the season half, but Incarnate Word pieced together six-straight points as Jasmine Smith hit a layup with 7:33 followed by a jumper by Nia Torru with 6:49 to play.

Smith would connected on a pair of charity tosses to give the Cardinals' their lone lead of the second half at 60-59 with 6:00 to play.

MSU limited the Cardinals to 0-for-6 shooting from the floor and forced two turnovers over the next 5:20, but UIW hit 3-of-4 shots from the free-throw to stay within hailing distance.

Brown hit a jumper with 5:34 to play to give MSU a 61-60 lead while Thompson connected on a pair of charity tosses and Buben canned her second trey of the contest to give the Mustangs a 66-60 lead with 3:28 to go.

Incarnate Word battled back by hitting 3-of-4 free throws of their own before Torru broke the field goal drought with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to knot the game at 66-66 with 56 seconds to play.

Thompson hit 7-of-10 shots from the field including a 3-pointer and was 4-of-6 from the free throw line, while fellow sophomore Savannah Carver added 14 points.

Brown scored just four points, but contributed greatly down the stretch with six rebounds and four steals.

Torru paced Incarnate Word with 15 points and six rebounds, while Smith added 13 points and six more rebounds.

"This win gives us great momentum going into next season," Johnson said. "I can't say enough about the effort over the past three games."

The Mustangs improved one game over last season by finishing with a 9-17 mark.