SILVER CITY, New Mexico – Midwestern State takes their longest road trip of the season when they make the 10.5 hour trek to Silver City, New Mexico for a Lone Star Conference contest with Western New Mexico on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. Central Time.

LAST TIME OUT
Elizabeth Cathcart (14 points) and Shawnisay Millar (12 points) each scored in double figures in a 74-62 loss to UT Permian Basin in the Lone Star Conference opener on December 5. Down 31-29 at the half, Midwestern State took their only lead of the game at 34-33 when Millar completed a three-point play just :55 seconds into the third quarter. The Falcons responded with a 5-0 spurt and never looked back. MSU struggled to contain Holly Hemmeline (17 points) and Kayla Galindo (14 points) and turned the ball over 15 times. They shot 5-of-21 from deep.

SERIES HISTORY
MSU has enjoyed much success over the years in the battle of the Mustangs, compiling a 10-3 mark. Prior to last season's 69-67 loss in Silver City, MSU had won five straight meetings. However, two of Midwestern State's three losses in the series have come in the Land of Enchantment.

EAZY-E
Elizabeth Cathcart narrowly missed her second straight double-double in a 12-point loss to UT Permian Basin in the LSC opener on December 5. The senior scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Cathcart collected her first double-double of the season with a 17-point, 11 rebound night vs Henderson State on December 2.

MILLAR TIME
Shawnisay Millar continued her hot start to the 2019-2020 season, pouring in 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting in a 74-62 loss to UT Permian Basin on December 5. After coming off the bench in each of the first three games, the sophomore has started each of the last two games, scoring 15 points and 12 points respectively. Millar is averaging 11.4 PPG this season.

REYNOLDS REJECTING EVERYTHING
A year after recording a program record 66 blocks, Hannah Reynolds is once again an imposing figure inside. The junior enters play with seven blocks on the season, placing her in a tie for 12th most in the Lone Star Conference. Twice this season, Reynolds has recorded three blocks in a game. 
 
PROTECT THE ROCK
Midwestern State has turned the basketball over 97 times or 19.4 times per game through the first five games of the season. MSU's season-high in turnovers in a game is 28, which came in a 75-68 win over Texas Wesleyan on November 16.

CATCHING UP WITH COACH JOHNSON
Noel Johnson is in her 12th season as the Head Coach of the Midwestern State Women's Basketball team. Last season, Johnson led MSU to a 12-16 (9-11) mark and a sixth place finish in the Lone Star Conference South Division. Overall, the Mustangs have compiled a 153-157 (.494) record under Johnson's guidance. She became the winningest coach in program history on December 19, 2017 when MSU beat Texas A&M-Kingsville, 72-66.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Western New Mexico dropped to 3-3 on the season and 0-2 in Lone Star Conference play with a 68-61 loss to Cameron on December 7. The Mustangs trailed the Aggies 39-17 at the half and although they cut the deficit to three points with 3:16 remaining, they could not complete the comeback. Alicia Mardis scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to notch her third double-double of the season. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native paces the Mustangs offense with 13.8 PPG and 9.5 RPG. Alexis Jones is the only other Mustang averaging in double figures, as the 5'7 junior checks in at 11.0 PPG. 

UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns home on December 19 for a matchup against Angelo State. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.