Women's Basketball 2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: Mustangs close season Saturday at Abilene Christian

Setting the Stage

Midwestern State closes the season against Abilene Christian in a Lone Star Conference South Division contest Saturday night at Moody Coliseum.

Tipoff is set for 5 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

Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of ACUSports.com. Link
LSC Scoreboard - MEN WOMEN

About the Mustangs

FINISHING STRONG Midwestern State attempts to finish off its best Lone Star Conference South mark since 2003-04 Saturday afternoon against Abilene Christian at Moody Coliseum. With a win, the Mustangs would finish with a 6-8 mark which is the best since battling to an 8-6 record eight seasons ago.

YES, YES FOR NO-NO Senior Nolisha Markham ranks fourth in the Lone Star Conference South in scoring during divisional games. The 5-10 forward from Tulsa picked her game in South play averaging 17.6 points a contest. She is enjoying the best season in terms of scoring at MSU since Katherine Maples tallied 16.2 points a game in 2005-06. Markham leads the squad averaging 14.7 points while pulling down 6.8 rebounds a contest.

CT IN DOUBLE DIGITS Junior forward Cierra Thompson is in the midst of her best at MSU posting career highs with 10.4 points a game and in field goal percentage at .429. The Llano High product has scored in double figures 14 times this season including a career-high 23-point effort on Nov. 30, 2010 against Southeastern Oklahoma.

HOT AND CARVER Only Nolisha Markham has scored 20-or-more points in a game more frequently for MSU this season than junior forward Savannah Carver. The Amarillo native has erupted for at least 20 points five games including a 24-point performance to lead the Mustangs to their first win over West Texas A&M in six years last month at D.L. Ligon Coliseum and all but one of those games has come at home. Carver needs four points to top last season's scoring output as she has scored 259 points in 25 games this season for a career-best 10.4 points a game.

KIRSTI KNOCKS IT DOWN Freshman guard Kirsti Degelia rates fourth on the Midwestern State freshman scoring list since the program made the move to NCAA Division II in 1995-96. The Krum High product is the third on the team at 9.3 points a game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. Degelia trails only Haley Hobson (297 points/2002-03), Lindy Lombard (280 points/1998-99) and Shannon Boase (255 points/1995-96) in frosh scoring since 1995-96 with 222 points.

JACKSON RETURNS Senior Katiya Jackson returned for a strong campaign after spending last season rehabbing a knee injury suffered in 2008-09. The Burkburnett High product is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.0 points and per game while hustling for 4.7 rebounds a contest. Jackson has scored 10-or-more points eight times including a career-best 23-point performance against Northeastern State on Jan. 6 in Tahlequah.

About the Wildcats

Abilene Christian (11-14, 8-5) had its four-game winning streak snapped by Tarleton State Wednesday night in Stephenville, but the Wildcats are already assured of a Lone Star Championship berth next week in Bartlesville, Okla.

But the Wildcats are still battling for seeding position at next week's tournament.

ACU would be the No. 2 seed with a win and if Eastern New Mexico beats West Texas A&M and Tarleton State defeats Angelo State.

The Wildcats garner a No. 3 seed with a victory and wins by WTAMU and TSU or with a win and victories by ENMU and ASU.

Abilene Christian would fourth with a win and if WT defeats ENMU and ASU beats TSU.

The Wildcats are the fourth with a loss and any combination.

ACU is paced by freshman guard Mack Langford who leads all LSC frosh in scoring at 17.9 points per game while shooting 41.2 percent including 44 3-point makes.

Senior guard Autumn Whitaker adds 12.4 points and 4.4 rebounds a game while sophomore forward Kelsey Smith is ACU's top interior threat with 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds a game.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Abilene Christian meet for the 53rd time Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

The Wildcats hold a 35-18 edge in the series that dates back to the 1977-78 season and have won five of the last six in the series.

ACU is 24-2 all time against the Mustangs in Abilene and have won the last 15 on the home court in the Big Country.

Former NAIA All America Trish Young paced Midwestern to its last win at Moody Coliseum by pouring in 37 points as MSU pulled away for an 89-78 victory on Jan. 30, 1992.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Katiya Jackson: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#32 Nolisha Markham: F; 5' 10"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Katiya Jackson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#32 Nolisha Markham
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

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