The Mustangs return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon as they play the first of their final two non-conference games by hosting Texas-Permain Basin.
Midwestern State is 6-1 overall, 2-1 in Lone Star Conference play and is coming off a 10-day break for final examinations after blasting West Texas A&M 74-55 on Dec. 5. Texas-Permian Basin is 6-2 overall and is coming off a two-week break after edging Oklahoma Christian 79-75 in overtime at the Falcon Dome in Odessa on Dec. 1.
Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
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. The Taco Casa Pregame Show begins at 5:15 pm.
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast simulcasts on bobradio.fm. LINK
Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of the Midwestern State Athletic Communications office. LINK
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State is off to its best start in a 16 years. MSU has matched it's best seven-game start in history at 6-1 and is aiming to to become one of three teams to have the program's best eight-game record.
The Mustangs are paced by the powerful duo of junior Kirsti Degelia and sophomore Andrea Carter.
Degelia leads the Mustangs offensively. The honorable mention All-Lone Star Conference performer a season ago is a junior from Denton, Texas/Krum who's third in the LSC in scoring with 15.4 points a game, and averages 3.4 assists a contest while grabbing 4.1 rebounds a game.
Carter, who has won the LSC Defensive Player of the Week award twice this year and the LSC Offensive Player of the Week award once, has posted four double-doubles in seven games this season. The sophomore from Angleton is second on the team and fifth in the LSC with a 14.5 scoring average. She leads the squad, is second in the LSC and fourth nationally with 12.1 rebounds and is second in the conference with 2.9 steals a contest.
Sophomore Shatoia Gober of Waco, Texas/Midway contributes 9.7 points a contest to go with her 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals an outing. She is also shooting 51.9 percent from the floor (27-of-52).
Sophomore Diana Jones of Hewitt, Texas/Midway is averaging 9.0 points a game, adds leads the LSC with 4.1 assists an outing. She has nailed 10-of-22 three point attempts (.455) to go with her 2.1 steals a contest.
Midwestern State is receiving votes once again in the WBCA's ESPN/USA Today Division II Coaches Poll, but is inching toward the Top 25. It's the fourth week this season for the Mustangs who received votes for five consecutive weeks in January and February last season.
MSU is averaging 74.6 points with 39.7 rebounds a game. The Mustangs allow opponents 61.6 points a contest.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
Texas-Permian Basin jumped out to four straight wins and owns three victories over Lone Star Conference teams, all at the top of the standings, Tarleton State, Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian.
The Falcons of coach Jerome Willis are at 6-2 on the season, with their only losses coming at the Fort Hays State classic to Washburn and Fort Hays. UTPB has been idle since beating Oklahoma Christian 79-75 in overtime on Dec. 1.
The Falcons are paced by senior swing player Teisha King of El Paso, Texas/Americas. The Western Texas College transfer is averaging 20.6 points a game to go with her 6.0 reoubnds and 3.5 assists. King is hitting 46.1 percent from the floor (59-of-128).
Senior Taniqua Ards of Lubbock, Texas/Estacado and Howard College adds 13.9 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Briannah Matthews, a senior from Phoenix, Arizona/South Pointe via Glendale Community College, chips in 13.0 points and leads the team with 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots a game.
The Falcons average 71.1 points a game, while allowing 63.9.
ABOUT THE SERIES
This is just the fourth meeting between the teams, with Midwestern State holding a 3-0 series advantage. Every game between the schools has been played at Ligon Coliseum. However, it's the first meeting for the teams since 2008, when MSU beat UTPB 73-67 on Dec. 18, 2008 -- the second win in the Noel Johnson era.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
