Game Book (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – A season-high 26 turnovers for Midwestern State and a 15-0 Tarleton State run in the first quarter lifted the TexAnns to a 72-58 win over the Mustangs in the Lone Star Conference opener Thursday evening at Wisdom Gym.
 
Following a Whitney Taylor basket to begin the game, Tarleton State (2-4, 1-0 LSC) went on a 15-0 run in a 5:40 span with the Mustangs committing eight turnovers and the TexAnns capitalizing with 10 points off the MSU miscues. Liz Cathcart snapped the Midwestern drought with back-to-back baskets to pull Midwestern State (2-4, 0-1 LSC) within nine before Tarleton took an 18-8 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Mustangs were held scoreless for the first 5:17 of the second quarter until a Taylor free throw ended the drought at the 4:43 mark. A layup by Leanna James with 4:07 remaining in the half ended a 7:50 field goal drought for the Maroon and Gold with James coming away with another basket after a steal and fastbreak jumper on the ensuing play to make it 28-13. A pair of Cathcart baskets helped MSU come within 12 in the final two minutes with Tarleton taking a 34-22 halftime lead.
 
Taylor netted 13 points in the third quarter but the Mustangs were unable to pull closer in the period with Tarleton stretching its lead to 56-39.
 
The TexAnns continued to hold at least a 15-point advantage until a pair of Taylor free throws brought Midwestern to within 13 in the final minute.

NOTES
- Whitney Taylor recorded a season-high 22 points, the sixth 20-point game of her career
- Liz Cathcart joined Taylor in double figures with 10 points, her third double-digit scoring performance of the season, while adding a season-high nine rebounds and three blocks in just 21 minutes to lead MSU
- Midwestern State shot 42 percent from the field compared to Tarleton State's 39.3 percent clip
- The TexAnns held a 27-17 in points off turnovers with Tarleton committing 14 turnovers
- Mackenzie Hailey led TSU with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six steals

STAT OF THE GAME
19 – Whitney Taylor scored 19 of her 22 points in the second half with 13 coming in the third quarter

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State wraps up a five-game road swing Saturday with a 2 p.m. tipoff against Texas A&M-Commerce at the A&M-Commerce Field House in Commerce.