THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – The MSU Mustangs connected early and often against Texas Woman's, rolling to a 79-65 victory at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Thursday. Midwestern State improves to 10-6 on the season, 7-3 in Lone Star Conference play and 7-2 at home.
 
MSU's Micheline Mercelita had her most dominant rebounding performance of the season with 20 boards, marking the first 20+ rebound game in the Lone Star Conference this season and the fourth-most in program history. The senior forward was the seventh player to record 20 rebounds in a game and the first since Andrea Carter had 20 against Texas Wesleyan on Nov. 18, 2014.
 
The Mustangs closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run over the final 4:42 to take a 25-14 lead into the second. MSU held the Pioneers to 35.0 percent from the field, aided by three rejections, including a pair from freshman forward Hannah Reynolds.
 
Midwestern State continued to light it up in the second quarter to take a 50-30 lead into the locker room, marking a new season-high for points in a half.
 
In the second half, the Maroon and Gold continued to maintain the pressure on TWU to secure the victory. The Mustangs led by at least 10 points for the entirety of the second half to roll to the 14 point win.
 
Senior guard Kristin Rydell had a season-best 18 points while shooting 72.7 percent from the field. The Hutto native collected three assists and two rebounds and also connected on a pair of treys. Senior guard Jasmine Richardson tied a season-high with seven dimes, including five in the first quarter while freshman forward Hannah Reynolds narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and eight boards.
 
Texas Woman's was led by Bri'anna Gray with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Pioneers fall to 6-9 overall and 3-6 in the LSC.

NOTES
- The Mustangs scored 50 points in the first half, the most in a single half by MSU this season. MSU previously scored 47 in the first half against Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 13
- The win was the third in the last four games by Midwestern State, which improved to 7-2 at home on the season.
- MSU had a season-high 22 assists on 27 made field goals. The Mustangs recorded an assist on 81.4 percent of their made field goals on the night.
- The 79 points marked a new season-high and the 14 point win is the third-time in the last four games the Maroon and Gold have won by double-figures.
- The Mustangs held the Pioneers to just 18.8 percent from beyond the arc and 38.8 percent overall. It was the fourth-time in the last five games MSU held the opposition to less than 40 percent.
- Midwestern State won the rebound battle for the 10^th-time in 16 games this season, outrebounding TWU, 45-42.
- Senior forward Micheline Mercelita recorded the Lone Star Conference's first 20 rebound game of the season, becoming the seventh player in program history to record 20 boards in a game. The effort was the fourth-most in school history and first since the 2014-15 season.
- Senior guard Kristin Rydell had a new season-high with 18 points on 72.7 percent shooting. The Hutto native's eight field goals made also set a new personal best. It was Rydell's third game of the season scoring in double-figures.
- Senior guard Whitney Taylor drained a pair of threes to continue to climb up the all-time three point list while adding 15 points. The Melissa native needs 15 more triples to break Lisa Hampton's all-time mark of 154. It was the ninth-time of the season Taylor scored in double figures.
- Senior guard Jasmine Richardson dished out a season-high seven assists in the win. It's the second-straight game the Mustangs have had a player with at least seven dimes (Kristin Rydell vs. CU).

UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 25 against Texas A&M-Commerce in Commerce. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.