PORTALES, N.M. - The Midwestern State Mustangs caged the Eastern New Mexico Zias on Sunday afternoon 72-46, en route to a program-best 13-1 start on the season.

MSU (13-1, 4-0) used terrific games by the starting five to dispatch the Zias (4-8, 0-2). Four starters scored in double digits, and Lisa Hampton added 4 points. The starters for MSU (49) outscored the entire ENMU team (46).

Andrea Carter paced Midwestern State with a game-high 15 points. Diana Jones, Shatoia Gober, and Shambreka Jones each added 10 points. Diana Jones' ten points was her 13th straight game with double digit points.

The Zias led things early, jumping out to a quick 7 point lead after a Jasmine Johnson triple. The 9-2 ENMU lead wouldn't hold as MSU went on a 12-0 run over the next 8 minutes of play.

MSU guard Janae McJunkins nailed the last bucket of the half to give MSU a 27-16 lead going into the break. The Mustang defense forced the Zias to an ice cold 26.1 percent shooting as well as forcing 8 turnovers.

As the second half started, the Zias battled back into the game. Eastern new Mexico used a 6-0 run over a 90 second span to trim MSU's lead to 38-34 with 12:53 to play.

After a Mustang 30 second timeout, MSU answered the challenge by going on a 17-0 run to put the game out of reach. Whitney Taylor poured in all eight of her career-high points during MSU's 17 point run.

Taylor Dowd and Destiny Means were also crucial in the second half as the MSU bigs helped to outscore the Zias 30-8 in the paint in the second half. MSU also controlled the glass, grabbing 43 rebounds to ENMU's 30.

The Mustangs continue the road trip on Wednesday, January 14, as they travel to Tarleton State. The TexAnns currently sport an 8-3, 2-1 record including a two game win streak. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.
  
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