Midwestern State vs. Lubbock Christian
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (7-1); Lubbock Christian (6-2)
Video: None
Radio: None
Audio: None
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State shoots for its seventh straight win Saturday night when the Mustangs take on Lubbock Christian. Tipoff at D.L. Ligon Coliseum is set for 6 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY CHAPS
- Lubbock Christian (6-2) brings NCAA Division II longest road winning streak into Saturday's matchup with Midwestern State. The Lady Chaps have won their last 16 contests away from the Rip Griffin Center dating back to a loss at Tarleton State on Nov. 16, 2013.
- LCU's only two losses this season have come against two teams ranked in the D2SIDA South Central Region rankings -- No. 2 Colorado-Colorado Springs and No. 5 Tarleton State.
- Though still in NCAA Division II provisional status, Lubbock Christian carries the region's No. 6 ranking. The Chaps are not eligible for postseason play this year.
- The Lady Chaps have won three consecutive games since taking a 73-71 overtime loss to Tarleton State on Nov. 28 at Griffin Center. The defeat snapped an 18-game home winning streak.
- Lubbock Christian features seven players averaging more than 19 minutes and at least 6.6 points per game as the Lady Chaps overpower the opposition by nearly 15 points per game -- 77.4 to 62.5.
- Junior guard Haley Fowler (12.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), senior guard Haley Burton (12.4 ppg, 5.6 apg) and sophomore forward Allison Szabo (11.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) average in double figures while freshman forward Tess Bruffey (9.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and sophomore guard Bailey Haist (9.5 ppg) are close.
- Junior forward Kellyn Schneider and junior guard Blair Taylor drop in 6.6 points per game each.
- Lubbock Christian protects the rim with the very best of them swatting nine shots per game. Bruffey and Schneider lead the way with 30 and 28 blocked shots, respectively.
- Steve Gomez is in his 12th season at the helm at his alma mater boasting a 265-99 record (.728). LCU is 84-11 over the last three season going 28-6 in 2011-12, 31-4 in 2012-13 and 25-1 in 2013-14.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Lubbock Christian square off for the 27th time on the hardwood Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs hold a commanding 20-6 edge in the series which dates back to the 1981-82 season.
- MSU claimed wins in each of the last 10 meetings between the programs, but this will be the first clash between the Mustangs and Lady Chaps since Feb. 12, 1994.
- LCU's last victory on the court came by a 71-70 count on Jan. 28, 1990 in Lubbock.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State scored the final seven points of the game to pull out a 70-66 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs have matched the program's best start through eight games and are 7-1 for the fifth time in school history and first time since 2012-13.
- With a win Saturday against Lubbock Christian, the Mustangs would move to 8-1 for just the third time in program history (2003-04, 1989-90).
- The Mustangs improved to 5-1 at Ligon Coliseum this season with the only loss coming to top-ranked Emporia State (Kan.).
- The current group of seniors are 39-8 (.830) on Gerald Stockton Court.
- Senior guard Dianna Jones (Hewitt, Texas / Midway HS) poured in a season-high 20 points going 6-of-13 from the field and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe in MSU's 70-66 win Wednesday night over Arkansas-Fort Smith.
- Jones has scored in double figures in each of her last seven games.
- Jones leads the LSC in assists with 3.8 per game.
- Senior guard Shatoia Gober (Waco, Texas / Midway HS) notched her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas-Fort Smith. It was her fifth career double-double.
- Senior forward Andrea Carter (Angleton, Texas / Angleton HS) grabbed double-figure rebounds for the sixth time this season pulling down 14 against Arkansas-Fort Smith narrowly missing her sixth double-double of the campaign finishing with eight points.
- Carter leads the LSC averaging 12 boards per game while ranking 17th in NCAA Division II.
- Senior forward Shambreka Jones (Mesquite, Texas / Poteet HS (Charleston Southern)) finished with nine points and seven rebounds while swatting two more shots against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
- Jones continues to lead the LSC with 1.9 blocked shots per game.
- Senior guard Lisa Hampton (Kennedale, Texas / Nolan Catholic HS) connected on three more 3-pointers to finish with nine points against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
- Hampton has connected on a triple in each game this season and has at least three in each of her last five games connecting on 20 of 40 (50 percent) from the arc over the stretch.
- Hampton leads the LSC and is 22nd nationally with 3.13 made 3-pointers per game.
- Hampton moved into a tie for eighth place on MSU's all-time made 3-pointers list with Lynn Buckmaster (108 from 1992-94) and J.J. Anderson (108 from 1997-01). She needs eight more to move into third past Kirsti Degelia (111 from 2010-14), Trish Young (111 from 1990-92), Mindy Myers (112 from 1990-94) and Julie Lovett (115 from 1993-97).
 
IN THE POLLS
- Midwestern State is ranked 24th in the Division II Media Poll and is receiving votes in the USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches' Top 25.
 
THE JOHNSON ERA
- Noel Johnson is in her seventh season at the helm of the Midwestern State basketball program.
- Johnson boasts a 97-78 record (.554) 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 hits the road to take on Southern Nazarene Saturday afternoon in Bethany, Okla. Tipoff at Sawyer Center is set for 2 p.m.