Midwestern State vs. Central Oklahoma
Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 | 5 p.m.
Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (2-1); Central Oklahoma (2-1)
Video: TWUAthletics.com  
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: TWUAthletics.com  
 
Midwestern State vs. St. Mary's (Texas)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 | 4 p.m.
Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (2-1); St. Mary's (2-0)
Video: TWUAthletics.com  
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: TWUAthletics.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State competes in the 2014 Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere hosted by Texas Woman's University Friday and Saturday at Kitty Magee Arena. The Mustangs take on Central Oklahoma Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. before battling St. Mary's (Texas) Saturday at 4.
 
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
- Central Oklahoma split a pair of games at the Stuteville Automotive Group MIAA/GAC Basketball Challenge last weekend in Tahlequah falling to Southeastern Oklahoma (69-66) before taking a 66-59 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State.
- The Bronchos claimed a 78-67 victory in their home opener Tuesday against cross-town rival Oklahoma Christian.
- Sophomore Olivia Mason leads of trio of players averaging in double figures at 13.3 points per game. The 5-11 guard from Fairview, Okla. pulls down 7.3 rebounds while dishing out three assists per game.
- Senior forward Kylie Mayes drops in 12.3 points per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field, while junior guard Haley Weathers adds 11.7 points per game shooting 42.1 percent from beyond the arc.
- Mason is coming off of a 21-point effort in Tuesday night's win over Oklahoma Christian.
- UCO coach Guy Hardaker is in his ninth year at the helm of the Bronchos posting a 149-89 record (.626).
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Central Oklahoma for the 38th time on the hardwood Friday afternoon in Denton.
- Central Oklahoma owns a slim 19-18 edge in the series which dates back to the 1977-78 season.
- The Bronchos have won five of the last six matchups between the programs dating back to 2008 with MSU's lone win coming by a 61-60 count on Jan. 4, 2012 in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern is 2-4 against UCO on neutral floors.
- Central Oklahoma claimed a 65-60 win over MSU in their only other meeting at Kitty Magee Arena on Nov. 21, 2003.
 
ABOUT THE RATTLERS
- St. Mary's (Texas) opened the season with wins over Lone Star Conference members Angelo State (74-60) and Tarleton State (56-53) last weekend in Stephenville.
- Seven of STMU's first eight opponent hail from the LSC as the Rattlers will face Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State twice while also playing MSU, TWU and Tarleton. The Rattlers' only other non-conference opponent is Colorado State-Pueblo next weekend at the St. Mary's Classic.
- The inside presence of senior forward Morgan Pullins and sophomore forward Kiara Etheridge powers the Rattlers. Pullins averages a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game while Etheridge also puts up 15.5 points to go along with 7.0 rebounds a game.
- Pullins is coming off of a 24-point, 14-rebound effort against Tarleton State, while Etheridge posted a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds against Angelo State.
- Junior guard Dezirae Elias is STMU's top perimeter threat averaging 12.5 points per game. She knocked down a pair of triples to finish with 18 points in the Rattlers' win over Angelo State.
- Jason Martens is in his ninth season at the helm for the Rattlers posting a 155-80 record (.660). The Bethel (Tenn.) grade led St. Mary's to 20-win seasons in each of the last two years. The Rattlers have won at least 20 games in five of his eight campaigns as head coach.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and St. Mary's (Texas) meet for the 16th time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena.
- The Mustangs own a 10-5 edge in the series which dates back to the 1982-83 season.
- Saturday's meeting marks the first game between the programs since MSU claimed a 69-64 win to open the 2005-06 season on Nov. 18, 2005 in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern has won six of the last meetings dating back to the 1991-92 season with St. Mary's claiming consecutive wins during the 2000-01 and 2002-03 season.
- The Mustangs are 2-1 against STMU on neutral floors.
 
MUSTANGS NOTABLES
- Midwestern State rolled off a 19-3 run late in the second half to put away a 60-47 win over Texas Wesleyan Tuesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum to improve to 2-1.
- Senior forward Andrea Carter (Angleton, Texas / Angleton HS) matched a career-high in rebounds while notching her 31st double-double finishing with 12 points and 20 rebounds Tuesday against Texas Wesleyan.
- Carter's 20 rebounds equaled her career best originally set against McMurry on Nov. 9, 2012. The total was the fourth most in a single game for an MSU player just behind Serena Carter's school record of 22 on Nov. 17, 1992. Jel-Ani Armstrong also had 22 against Texas A&M-Commerce on Feb. 28, 2004 a game after securing 21 caroms against Texas A&M-Kingsville two nights earlier.
- Carter needs four boards to become just the fourth player in program history to snag 800 rebounds joining Alice Edwards (1014 from 1981-85), Serena Carter (939 from 1989-93) and Lounette Adkins (839 from 1978-79, 80-81, 93-95).
- Senior point guard Dianna Jones (Hewitt, Texas / Midway HS) rocked the nets for a season-high 16 points hitting on 6-of-13 shot from the field including her first two 3-pointers of the season. DJ is shooting a smooth 88.2 percent from the charity stripe this season (15-of-17) while dishing out four assists per game.
- Senior guard Shatoia Gober (Waco, Texas / Midway HS) notched her second double-figure performance of the season finishing with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting Tuesday against Texas Wesleyan. Toi leads the Mustangs in scoring through three games at 12 points per game.
- Senior guard Lisa Hampton (Kennedale, Texas / Nolan Catholic HS) has knocked down a 3-pointer in each of her first three games this season and is shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
- Hampton knocked down her 88th career triple Tuesday against Texas Wesleyan to move into a tie with Angie Faurot (88 3s from 2004-06) for 12th on MSU's all-time 3-pointers made list. She needs 13 to match former teammate Savannah Carver (101 3s from 2008-12) for 11th.
- Senior forward Shambreka Jones (Mesquite, Texas / Poteet HS (Charleston Southern)) ranks second in the Lone Star Conference swatting 2.3 shots per game. Breka notched a season-high three blocked shots Tuesday against Texas Wesleyan.
 
THE JOHNSON ERA
- Noel Johnson is in her seventh season at the helm of the Midwestern State basketball program.
- Johnson boasts a 92-78 record (.541) while leading the Mustangs to the NCAA Division II postseason in each of the last two seasons including a trip to the South Central Region finals in 2013.
- Midwestern claimed its first NCAA wins taking down Tarleton State and Metro State (Colo.) in 2013 before falling to No. 4 Colorado Mesa in the regional final.
- Johnson led the Mustangs to its first Lone Star Conference championship in 12 seasons claiming the 2012-13 title.
- Johnson garnered Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012 before earning Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Small College Coach of the Year accolades in 2013.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns home to take on Oklahoma Panhandle State Tuesday night under the dome. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.