Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – UT Permian Basin erased a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime before collecting an 82-78 victory to deny Midwestern State its first Lone Star Conference win of the season Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Midwestern State (3-9, 0-6 LSC) took control of the game in the third quarter, putting together an 11-0 run early in the frame to move ahead by three before taking a 53-50 advantage heading into the fourth.

The Mustangs took their largest lead of the afternoon with 7:54 remaining in regulation at 59-50 with a basket by Jasmine Richardson and three-point play by Micheline Mercelita leading the charge for MSU. UT Permian Basin (5-7, 2-4 LSC) inched closer to the Mustangs in the final minutes with a three-pointer by Sierra LaGrande and two layups by Victoria Lopez pulling the Falcons to within two at 62-60 with 5:08 to play.

Midwestern State was able to hold a slight lead over UTPB until a pair of free throws by Stephanie Verduzco with 1:56 to play evened the contest at 64-all. Whitney Taylor propelled the Mustangs back in front on the ensuing possession with a three-pointer, but the Falcons answered right back with a basket by Niva Taito. Both teams committed turnovers in the final seconds and a last-second shot by MSU fell short to send the game into overtime.

Briana Caro and Jau'nae Peevy helped UTPB open up a six-point advantage on the Mustangs with 1:02 remaining in the extra period following a 6-0 spurt. The Mustangs came within a possession on two separate occasions in the final 30 seconds but a pair of free throws by Victoria Lopez with eight seconds remaining sealed the win for UTPB.

In the first quarter, Taylor and Mercelita helped the Mustangs stretch their lead to six after the first 10 minutes of action with MSU closing the period on a 7-2 run.

UTPB began the second period on a 9-2 run with the Falcons taking the lead at 21-20 following a LaGrande triple. The Falcons extended their lead to as many seven before taking a 35-29 halftime lead.

NOTES
- Whitney Taylor led the Mustangs in scoring for the sixth time this season with 19 points while grabbing eight rebounds
- Micheline Mercelita recorded her second double-double of the season with a career-best 17 points and 14 boards
- Avery Queen notched double figures with 13 points while adding a season-high seven rebounds
- Kristin Rydell also reached double digits with 11 points while matching a career-high four assists
- Midwestern State placed four players in double figures for just the second time this season (Adams State, Nov. 11, 2016)
- The Mustangs held a 49-36 rebounding edge with 18 offensive rebounds while owning a 24-5 advantage in second chance points
- MSU led 34-26 in points in the paint
- Leanna James paced the Mustangs with six assists, her third-straight game with at least six helpers
- UTPB scored 23 points off 19 MSU turnovers while leading 14-6 in fastbreak points
- The Falcons shot 45.6 percent from the floor including 43.5 percent from three-point range with 10 three-pointers, just the second time this season an MSU opponent has recorded 10 or more triples
- Midwestern State shot 39.2 percent from the floor
- Jau'nae Peevy led UTPB with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting with six three-pointers

STAT OF THE GAME
14 – Micheline Mercelita's 14 rebounds were the most by an MSU player this season

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State hits the road next weekend for a pair of league games at Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico. The Mustangs first take on WNMU in a 6:30 p.m. (CST) matchup Thursday in Silver City before facing ENMU in a 3 p.m. tipoff Saturday in Portales.