Women's Basketball 11/14/2017 11:34:00 PM Trey Reed / MSU Athletic Communications

@WBBMSUMustangs close homestand Wednesday vs. Texas Wesleyan

Midwestern State (1-1) vs. Texas Wesleyan (1-2)
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio/Video: Mustangs Digital Network

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Midwestern State competes for its second straight win Wednesday night against Texas Wesleyan at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
With a win, the Mustangs go over .500 for the first time since 2014-15 and gain momentum going into a nine-day break before playing St. Mary's (11/24) and Lubbock Christian (11/25) in the St. Mary's Classic.
Midwestern held fourth-quarter leads in both games last weekend at the Comfort Inn/Ashbrook Classic bouncing back from a 71-64 loss to Colorado Mesa with a 72-68 win over Oklahoma Christian.
Freshman forward Hannah Reynolds claimed all-tournament team honors after averaging 11 points and 3.5 rebounds. She is the first MSU freshman since Shatoia Gober (to score in double figures in her first two collegiate games. Gober scored 10-or-more points in the first three games of the 2011-12 season.
Senior guard Whitney Taylor leads the Mustangs in scoring at 13.0 points per game knocking down 3.5 triples per game.
Taylor matched a career best with five 3-pointers Saturday against Oklahoma Christian. She moved into fourth place on the program's all-time 3-point make list with 116. She trails Lisa Hampton (154 3s/2011-15), Andrea Buben (132 3s/2006-10) and Kristin Ramsey (125 3s/2000-04).
Senior forward Micheline Mercelita recorded her first double-double of the season Saturday against Oklahoma Christian. She score 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and made three steals.
Midwestern State tips off the 2017-18 season in the Seventh Annual Comfort Inn presents Ashbrook Classic at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The Mustangs return four starters and 10 letter winners off of last season's 8-18 squad which finished ninth in the Lone Star Conference.
Taylor is the top returner for the Mustangs as a two-time All-LSC pick. The Melissa, Texas native averaged 13.4 points with 62 3-pointers in 2016-17.
Other starters include senior guard Kristin Rydell (9.3 ppg, 42 3s), senior forward Avery Queen (7.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Leanna James (3.8 apg).
Midwestern State also return numerous key contributors from last season including leading rebounder Micheline Mercelita (6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), sophomore forward Liz Cathcart (5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and senior guard Jasmine Richardson (5.4 ppg, 2.6 apg).
The Mustangs welcome a trio of junior transfers in Annette Dukes (Indian River State College), Chelcie Kizart (Cloud County CC) and Chelsea Adams (Hill College) as well as freshmen Hannah Reynolds (Prosper HS) and Kityana Diaz (Amarillo Palo Duro HS).
Micheline Mercelita (10 points, 8 rebounds), Whitney Taylor (10 points, 4 assists) and Chelsea Adams (10 points) scored in double figures in MSU's 61-42 exhibition win over Hardin-Simmons.
Noel Johnson enters her 10^th season at the helm of the MSU women's basketball program with an overall record of 127-125 (.504). Under Johnson's guidance, the Mustangs claimed the 2013 Lone Star Conference Championship advancing to the NCAA postseason three consecutive seasons from 2013-15.
MSU was picked to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll of coaches, sports information directors and selected media.
Midwestern State meets Texas Wesleyan for the 49^th time on the hardwood Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The Mustangs own a 30-18 edge in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season. MSU has beaten the Rams in each of the last three campaigns since the sides renewed the series following a 14-year hiatus in 2014. Overall, MSU has won 13 of the last 15 games against Texas Wesleyan dating back to 1989-90 season.
MSU beat Texas Wesleyan 60-47 in 2014, won 57-55 on McKenna Villegas' buzzer-beater in 2015 and claimed an 81-59 win last season. All three games were played under the dome.
Texas Wesleyan is 1-2 on the season with its lone victory coming against St. Thomas-Houston (76-57). The Rams took exhibition losses to TCU (78-50) and Tarleton State (90-60).
Texas Wesleyan boasts a pair of players averaging in double figures including junior Karah Sicurella (12.7 ppg) and sophomore Nicole Gleason (11.0 ppg).
Texas Wesleyan's Steve Trachier, who has spent the last seven years as AD, adds women's basketball head coaching duties to his plate this season.
Trachier's top assistant – Chardonae Fuqua – enjoyed a standout career at Baylor.
Texas Wesleyan was slated to finish sixth in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#3 McKenna Villegas: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#1 Leanna James: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#15 Micheline Mercelita: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#40 Avery Queen: F/C; 6' 2"; Senior

#2 Jasmine Richardson: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#5 Kristin Rydell: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#42 Whitney Taylor: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#3 Annette Dukes: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#4 Chelcie Kizart: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#12 Chelsea Adams: F; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 McKenna Villegas
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Leanna James
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Micheline Mercelita
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#40 Avery Queen
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F/C

#2 Jasmine Richardson
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#5 Kristin Rydell
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#42 Whitney Taylor
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#3 Annette Dukes
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#4 Chelcie Kizart
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#12 Chelsea Adams
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F