Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2014 | 4 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-1, 1-0); Texas A&M-Commerce (4-4, 0-0)
Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State goes for its 10th consecutive win Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum as the Mustangs take on Texas A&M-Commerce in a Lone Star Conference contest. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce closed out its pre-holiday slate with back-to-back losses to Texas State (74-69) and East Central (Okla.) (63-50).
- The Lions are 2-3 on the road this season claiming victories at McMurry (82-80/OT) and Southern Arkansas (54-52).
- Senior forward La'Tisha Hearne leads the Lion attack averaging 13.6 points per game while pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game. She has scored 10-or-more points in each of her last three games including a 20-point, 14-rebound outburst against Rogers State (Okla.) on Dec. 6, 2014.
- Freshman Princess Davis pitches in 9.9 points while leading the squad with 3.4 assists. The 5-7 guard from Shreveport, La. splashed in a season-best 26 points against Henderson State (Ark.) on Nov. 17.
- Senior forward Abigail Leaupepe-Tele scored in double figures in each of her last two outings going for 13 points and six rebounds against Texas State and 13 points and four rebounds against East Central.
- Jason Burton is in his first season at the helm of the Texas A&M-Commerce women's basketball program.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 58th time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs command a 40-17 all time lead in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season.
- MSU has won the last eight meetings between the programs with the Lions last win coming by a 79-72 margin on Dec. 17, 2008 in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern is 21-5 all time against Texas A&M-Commerce at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State looks to extend its current winning streak to 10 games Saturday night against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- It would be just the sixth time in program history that MSU stretched a winning streak into double figures and the first time since the Mustangs won 11 consecutive games from Jan. 3 to Feb. 9, 2013.
- Midwestern State is current ranked 15th in D2 Media Poll presented by D2SIDA. The Mustangs are receiving votes in the USA Today Sports/WBCA Top 25.
- MSU ranks 16th in NCAA Division II in team free throw percentage (76.3) and is 18th with 4.7 blocked shots per game.
- Senior guard Dianna Jones (Hewitt, Texas / Midway HS) worked for a team-high 14 points to lead the Mustangs to a 61-47 win over Texas Woman's Thursday night in Denton. Jones has scored in double figures in each of her last 10 games and tops MSU in scoring at 14.8 points per game.
- Senior forward Shambreka Jones (Mesquite, Texas / Poteet HS (Charleston Southern)) went 3-of-6 from the field and connected on 6-of-8 from the charity stripe to finish with 12 points, four blocked shots and three rebounds. It was her third straight double-digit scoring outing and third of the season.
- Jones leads the Lone Star Conference and rates 32nd nationally with two blocked shots per game. Her four blocked shots against TWU was a season high.
- Senior guard Shatoia Gober (Waco, Texas / Midway HS) narrowly missed her second double-double of the season Thursday against Texas Woman's finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and five steals.
- Senior guard Lisa Hampton (Kennedale, Texas / Nolan Catholic HS) connected on her 112th and 113th career 3-pointers to finish with eight points and three rebounds against Texas Woman's.
- Hampton moved pasted Mindy Myers (112 3s from 1990-94) into fourth on MSU's all time made 3-pointers list and needs three more to move into third past Julie Lovett (115 3s from 1993-97).
- Senior guard Janae McJunkins (Wagoner, Okla. / Wagoner HS (Murray State)) bombed in a season-high two 3-pointers to finish with six points Thursday night against TWU.
 
THE JOHNSON ERA
- Noel Johnson is in her seventh season at the helm of the Midwestern State basketball program.
- Johnson boasts a 100-78 record (.562) 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.
- Johnson reached milestone victory No. 100 with a 61-47 win over Texas Woman's University on Jan. 1, 2015 in Denton.
- Midwestern claimed its first NCAA postseason tournament 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 renews its Highway 287 Challenge Cup series rivalry with West Texas A&M Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.