Game Book (PDF)

CANYON, Texas – No.1-ranked West Texas A&M fended off several Midwestern State rallies to earn an 85-68 victory over a feisty Mustangs squad Wednesday evening at First United Bank Center.

West Texas A&M (13-0, 2-0 LSC) owned a 44-22 advantage inside the paint while holding an 18-9 edge in points off turnovers to remain perfect on the season. The Lady Buffs shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the floor on the night while Midwestern State (1-11, 0-2 LSC) finished with a 37.5 percentage (21-of-56).

West Texas A&M used a 14-0 run to claim a 17-4 advantage midway through the first quarter before a jumper by junior post Jennifer Sissel ended the Lady Buffs spurt.

Facing a 25-9 deficit heading into the second quarter, Midwestern State began the period on a 10-2 run sparked by five-straight points from sophomore guard Kristin Rydell.

After Rydell knocked down a pair of free throws and drained a three-pointer, freshman forward Kendriana Washington recorded the next five points to cap off the MSU run. Washington pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for two to bring the Mustangs back within 10 at 26-16. Washington continued her aggressive play on the next possession, going by 6-4 Lilley Vander Zee for a three-point play to make the score 27-19 with 8:18 to play in the half.

Rydell brought the Mustangs within seven at 33-26 with her second triple of the evening, but MSU was held without a field goal the final 4:33 of the half as WT took a 44-29 lead into the locker room.

MSU refused to go away quietly in the third quarter, trimming the WT lead down to nine after a Washington jumper with 4:26 to play in the period.

The Lady Buffs ended the momentum for the Maroon and Gold with an 11-0 run to end the third quarter, receiving seven points from sophomore guard Hannah Alexander for a 61-41 advantage after three.

A basket by freshman post McKenna Villegas followed by five-straight points from sophomore guard Whitney Taylor pulled the Mustangs within 16 at 71-55 with 5:21 remaining in the contest.

MSU cut the deficit back to single digits following a three-pointer from senior guard Kathryn Odom with two minutes to play, but the Mustangs rally was too late with the Lady Buffs recording an 85-68 win.

Washington led the Mustangs with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and a team-best three steals. Sissel matched a career-high 12 points while Taylor also reached double figures with 10 points and tied a team-high three assists.

Watson led the Lady Buffs with 17 points, shooting 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.
 
Midwestern State hosts Eastern New Mexico in its Lone Star Conference home opener Saturday at 4 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.