Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State erased a 10-point second half deficit before falling just short of an upset to Lone Star Conference leader Eastern New Mexico in a 61-57 setback Thursday evening at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
Eastern New Mexico (19-5, 15-2 LSC) stretched its lead to 42-32 with 5:52 remaining in the third period before the Mustangs put together a 7-0 spurt with scoring contributions from Kristin Rydell and Jennifer Arbuckle. After ENMU claimed a 49-43 lead after three quarters, a Whitney Taylor layup with 8:55 to play in the game capped off a 5-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to bring Midwestern State (7-16, 4-13 LSC) to within a point at 49-48.
 
An Avery Queen jumper with just under eight minutes to play propelled the Mustangs in front at 52-51 while a Rydell three gave MSU a 55-53 advantage at the 5:09 mark. The Mustangs were held to just one field goal the rest of the way, missing seven of their last eight shots as ENMU closed the game on an 8-2 run. A layup by Mikaehla Connor with 3:21 remaining gave the Greyhounds a lead it would not relinquish before a basket by Eliza Martinez with 20 seconds to play pushed the lead to two possessions before recording the 61-57 win.
 
In the first quarter, the Mustangs jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage before the Greyhounds answered back with a 6-0 run. The visitors stretched their lead to five in the opening period before the Mustangs closed out the quarter with five-straight points to even the game at 12-all.
 
ENMU went on a 15-2 run to begin the second quarter, taking its largest lead of the night at 29-17 with 3:50 to play in the half before posting a 36-28 halftime advantage.

NOTES
- Whitney Taylor totaled 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting including 3-of-6 from behind the arc to lead the Mustangs
- Kristin Rydell added 13 points with three triples while Avery Queen finished with 12 points and a career-high eight boards
- Leanna James dished out five assists, her eighth game of five or more assists this season
- Midwestern State finished with a 35.6 shooting percentage (21-of-59) including 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from three-point range
- Mikaehla Connor led the Greyhounds with 22 points while Daeshi McCants recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds
- ENMU shot 35.2 percent (19-of-54) from the floor while shooting 35 percent (7-of-20) from three and 80 percent (16-of-20) from the free-throw line
- Despite the loss, Midwestern State remains in contention for an LSC Tournament berth following a Texas A&M-Kingsville loss to West Texas A&M tonight. The Javelinas still remain two games ahead of MSU with three regular season games remaining. 

STAT OF THE GAME
1 – Midwestern State was limited to just one field goal in the final five minutes of the game with Eastern New Mexico closing out the contest on an 8-2 run

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State plays host to Western New Mexico Saturday for Senior Day with a 2 p.m. tipoff at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.