ODESSA, Texas – Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference action on Thursday night against UT Permian Basin. Tipoff is set for 5:15 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
MSU owns a 9-2 edge over the Falcons of UT Permian Basin and have won three straight meetings. The Mustangs swept the season series in 2018-2019, posting a 79-57 win in Wichita Falls before earning a 63-52 victory in Odessa.
 
SIMPSON PROVIDES A SPARK
Kaki Simpson scored seven points in 13 minutes, both season-highs, in Monday night's 84-73 loss to Henderson State. The Howard College (Texas) transfer shot 3-of-5 from the floor and grabbed three rebounds.
 
MILLAR TIME
Sophomore Shawnisay Millar earned her first MSU start on Monday night. The Prestonpans, Scotland native scored a season-high 15 points in 19 minutes and went a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line. Millar is third on the team with 11.3 PPG.

SCORING QUARTET
Through the first four games of the season, Midwestern State has a quartet of players averaging at least 10 points per game: Elizabeth Cathcart (15.0 PPG), Hannah Reynolds (13.5 PPG), Shawnisay Millar (11.3 PPG), and Mica Schneider (10.3 PPG). The four have accounted for 68% of MSU's offense (50.1 PPG/73.3 PPG).
 
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 153-156 (.495) 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 FALCONS
UT Permian Basin dropped to 4-3 on the season with a 75-63 setback to Howard Payne on November 26. With four wins, the Falcons have already matched last season's win total (4-24). Freshman Holly Hemmeline leads the Falcons with 11.9 PPG while freshman Rory Carter checks in with 11.7 PPG. UTPB returns just three players from last year's squad (Jada Berry, Kristian James, and Lemia Ntor-Ue).

UP NEXT
The longest road trip of the season in terms of distance as MSU makes the trek to Silver City, New Mexico on December 14 for a meeting with Western New Mexico. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. Central Time.