WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State looks to close out 2019 with a win as the Mustangs welcome No. 2 Lubbock Christian to Wichita Falls on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.

CANNING FOR A CAUSE
Help us replenish the MSU food pantry by donating two canned goods during Midwestern State's doubleheader against Lubbock Christian on Saturday. Every donation is matched with a free general admission ticket.

LAST TIME OUT
Midwestern State trailed for just 2:13 of action in a 76-64 win over visiting Angelo State on Thursday night. The Mustangs raced out to an 11-point lead after the first quarter, sparked by a stingy defense that forced ASU into nine turnovers. Frances King scored a career-high 12 points and handed out nine assists while Elizabeth Cathcart led all players with 21 points. MSU dominated the transition game, outscoring the Belles, 29-16.

SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State has found much success against Lubbock Christian on the hardwood. The Mustangs own a 23-6 edge over the Lady Chaps and won 13-straight meetings between 1990 and 2014. However, since LCU became a national power, claiming National Championships in 2016 and 2019, the Lady Chaps are 2-0 against MSU, claiming a 92-71 win in Lubbock in 2015 and a 65-57 win in 2017 in San Antonio.

FRANCES IS KING
Frances King scored 12 points and dished out nine assists in a career-high 29 minutes against Angelo State on Thursday night. The redshirt freshman filled up the stat sheet, finishing with six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. King leads MSU with 5.0 APG.
 
QUICK START SPELLS SUCCESS
Thursday night marked the second straight game MSU jumped out to a double digit lead after the first quarter. The Mustangs, who led Angelo State 23-12 after one, led Western New Mexico 16-4 after a quarter of play on December 12. MSU is 3-0 this season when leading after the first quarter.
 
IS THAT TRUE
In one of the more odd stats of the season, Midwestern State is 2-0 this season when turning the ball over 20 or more times in a game. The Mustangs turned the ball over a season-high 28 times in a 75-68 win over Texas Wesleyan on November 16 before committing 22 turnovers in a 76-64 win over Angelo State on December 20.
 
AGAINST TOP FIVE OPPONENTS
Saturday's game marks the seventh time since the start of the 2013-2014 season that Midwestern State will take on a team ranked in the top 5 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) rankings. MSU is 1-5 in the previous six meetings, with the lone win coming at home against No. 3 West Texas A&M on January 7, 2015 (77-64).

12/1/18                No. 5 West Texas A&M 73 MSU 59                         Canyon, Texas
1/4/18                  No. 2 West Texas A&M 64 MSU 46                         Canyon, Texas
1/6/16                  No. 1 West Texas A&M 85 MSU 68                         Canyon, Texas
1/7/15                  MSU 77 No. 3 West Texas A&M 64                         Wichita Falls, Texas
2/12/14                No. 4 Emporia State 77 MSU 55                              Emporia, Kansas
11/23/13              No. 5 West Texas A&M 87 MSU 77 (OT)                 Wichita Falls, Texas

REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN WICHITA FALLS
Saturday's game against Lubbock Christian marks the fourth time MSU has hosted the reigning National Champion and first time since making the move from NAIA to Division II (1997). MSU is 1-2 in the previous three meetings, with all three matchups taking place against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Interestingly, Lubbock Christian defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State 95-85 in double overtime last season to claim the Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. 

2/22/83               Southwestern Oklahoma State 101 MSU 83
11/12/83             Southwestern Oklahoma State 73 MSU 45
12/8/90               MSU 79 Southwestern Oklahoma State 63

A MATCHUP TO WATCH
Saturday's contest against Lubbock Christian pits Midwestern State's Elizabeth Cathcart (7th in the Lone Star Conference at 15.0 PPG) against Lubbock Christian's Maddi Chitsey (6th in the Lone Star Conference at 15.4 PPG). Cathcart has scored in double figures in all seven of Midwestern State's games, including a season-high 21 points against Angelo State on December 19. Chitsey on the other hand has scored in double figures in all 10 of Lubbock Christian's games, including back-to-back 16-point efforts.

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 155-157 (.497) 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 to land her 133rd career victory.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY CHAPS
Lubbock Christian has turned into a national power under Head Coach Steve Gomez, claiming National Championships during the 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 seasons. The defending champion Lady Chaps, in their first season in the Lone Star Conference (LSC), are off to a 10-0 (4-0) start and are ranked No. 2 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) rankings. LCU is ranked No. 1 in the D2SIDA National Poll. Since the start of the 2015-2016 season, LCU has posted a 127-18 record. The Lady Chaps ran their winning streak to 21-straight games dating back to last season with an 89-74 win at Cameron on Thursday night and have not suffered a loss since a 69-67 setback at Newman on February 21, 2019. Maddi Chitsey (15.4 PPG), Allie Schulte (13.8 PPG), and Ashton Duncan (10.4 PPG) spearhead an LCU offense that averages 72.0 PPG, the fourth highest mark in the Lone Star Conference. On the defensive end, LCU allows just 58.3 PPG, the fourth fewest points allowed per game in the LSC. 

UP NEXT
Midwestern State ushers in 2020 with a Lone Star Conference clash against UT Tyler on Thursday, January 2. Tipoff from the Louise Herrington Patriot Center in Tyler, Texas is set for 5:30 p.m.