Midwestern State vs. #21 St. Mary's (Texas)
MSU Texas (1-5), STMU (8-1)
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 | 2 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU Texas leads 14-4 | MSU Texas has won two of the three vs. STMU during the Noel Johnson era | The Mustangs are 7-2 all-time against the Rattlers at Ligon Coliseum winning seven straight from 1984-2005 | St. Mary's won 81-58 on last trip to Wichita Falls (11/14/15) | MSU Texas won last meeting 62-47 in San Antonio (11/24/17)
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM |  Audio / Video: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com
 
THE OPPONENT: St. Mary's rides a seven-game winning streak into Saturday's game which includes wins over No. 1 Central Missouri (101-97/2OT) and No. 21 Angelo State (70-64)… The Rattlers surged into the Women's Basketball Coaches of America (WBCA) poll at No. 21 and entered the D2SIDA Poll at No. 18 this week… At 8-1, St. Mary's is off to its best start since also going 8-1 in 2016-17. The Rattlers also experienced a 10-1 start in 2013-14 and an 11-1 beginning in 2008-09 under current coach Jason Martens… Reigning Heartland Conference Offensive player of the Week Kaitlin Walla rates second in the league in scoring at 18.1 points per game… Walla shoots 50 percent from the arc going 34-of-68 in her first nine games scoring a season-high 35 points with five triples against No. 1 Central Missouri and hit five treys on her way to a 23-point effort last time out at Angelo State… Senior guard Arysia Porter averaged 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game has missed the last two games… Sophomore guard Soteria Banks (11.6 ppg) scored a season-high 29 points against Central Missouri then went for 20 at Angelo State… Sophomore forward Hannah Wilson (9.9 ppg) leads the Heartland Conference with 10.7 rebounds per game… Wilson sports four double-doubles this season and grabbed 10-or-more rebounds in each of her last four games… Jason Martens is in his 13th year at the helm of the St. Mary's women's basketball program sporting a 232-122 record (.655) producing four Heartland Conference titles and five NCAA Division II South Central Regional showings…
 
LAST TIME OUT: Midwestern State looks to shake a two-game slide after falling to Eastern New Mexico (80-64) and No. 5 West Texas A&M (73-59) two weeks ago on the road. The Mustangs poured in 31 points in the fourth period against Eastern New Mexico and were led by sophomore forward Hannah Reynolds, who scored 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Junior guard Mica Schneider led a balanced scoring attack at West Texas A&M with 10 points, while Reynolds, Kityana Diaz and Annette Dukes tallied eight points each.
 
ALL-TIME WINS LEADER: As the program's all-time coaching wins leader, Noel Johnson has posted a 140-143 mark (.495) in her 11th season at the helm. Johnson piloted the Mustangs to three consecutive NCAA Division II South Central Regional showings (2013, 2014, 2015) and a Lone Star Conference title in 2013. She earned LSC Coach of the Year honors in 2012 and was the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Small College Coach of the Year in 2013.
 
GET THAT SHOT OUTTA HERE: Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 22nd in NCAA Division II swatting 4.7 shots per game. As a team, the Mustangs have recorded at least five blocked shots in five of six games this season led by 6-4 sophomore Hannah Reynolds, who leads the LSC and is 38th nationally at 1.8 blocks per game. Juniors Liz Cathcart and Erin Alexander contribute to the block party with a total of five swats each this season.
 
RANGY REYNOLDS: Sophomore Hannah Reynolds leads MSU Texas and ranks 18th in the Lone Star Conference scoring 11 points per game. The Prosper, Texas native has scored in double figures in four of six games scoring a season-high 13 points three times – against Oklahoma Christian, Dallas Christian and Eastern New Mexico.
 
REGISTERING POINTS BY THE CATHCART: Junior forward Liz Cathcart ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game. The Spring Branch, Texas native tallied at least 10 points four times this season including a campaign-high 18 on 8-of-11 shooting against Texas Wesleyan.
 
KEEP SWIPING, TANA: Sophomore guard Kityana Diaz leads the Mustangs and ranks eighth in the Lone Star Conference with 12 steals accounting for at least two swipes in five of her six outings. The Amarillo native is also third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game including a season-high 14 against Dallas Christian.
 
THE ERIN OF EFFICIENCY: Junior forward Erin Alexander ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 8.4 points per game while putting down a team-high 6.6 rebounds. The Washington, Kan. native finds a way score despite averaging one field goal attempt for every 4.4 minutes of playing time by shooting 44.8 percent from the floor (13-of-29) and 88.2 percent from the charity stripe (15-of-17). Alexander produced a double-double against Dallas Christian going for season highs of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
THE MICA CHICA: Junior guard Mica Schneider buried two 3-pointers to match a season high with 10 points the last time out at West Texas A&M. The output matched a 10-point effort earlier this season against Dallas Christian. Schneider knocked down three of her last seven shots from the arc over her last two games after going 2-for-7 from deep during her first five outings of the season.
 
KIZ FOR 3: Senior guard Chelcie Kizart is the MSU Texas' top 3-point threat shooting 42.1 percent from the arc this season (8-of-19). The Minneapolis native connected on four triples for a season-high 17 points against Dallas Christian after hitting two triples to finish with 15 points in the season opener against Oklahoma Christian.
 
MUSTANGS ON ESPN 95.5:  Every Midwestern State men's basketball will air live on ESPN 95.5 FM beginning the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tipoff.
 
MUSTANGS DIGITAL NETWORK: All Midwestern State home games are set for broadcast on the Mustangs Digital Network both live and on demand at MSUMustangs.tv. Season passes are available for $30 while single games run $9 each.
 
FOLLOW US: Follow news, notes and photos for all Midwestern State athletic teams on MSUMustangs.com or on social media at MSUMustangs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
COMING UP NEXT… Midwestern State closes out its pre-Christmas slate Wednesday night against UT Tyler at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.