TYLER, Texas – Midwestern State ushers in the new year on Thursday in Tyler, Texas with a Lone Star Conference clash against UT Tyler. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Midwestern State closed out 2019 with a 67-54 loss to No. 2 Lubbock Christian. The Mustangs led 44-38 with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter before the defending national champions used a 19-3 run to pull away. MSU went ice cold in the final stanza, shooting just 2-of-15. Elizabeth Cathcart recorded her second double-double of the season with a 12-point, 12-rebound effort.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be just the second meeting all-time between Midwestern State and UT Tyler. MSU defeated the Patriots 95-36 in Wichita Falls last season. The Patriots joined the Lone Star Conference prior to the season and were approved in July to move into the second year of the NCAA Division II Membership Process (Transitioning from NCAA Division III).

EAZY-E
Elizabeth Cathcart scored in double figures for the eighth straight game and registered her second double-double of the year with a 12-point, 12-rebound afternoon against Lubbock Christian on December 21. The senior leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 PPG.

RELIABLE REYNOLDS
Hannah Reynolds scored 19 points, her second highest output of the season (scored 22 against Dixie State), in the loss to No. 2 Lubbock Christian. The junior was an efficient 7-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, the most free throws she has hit in a game since also making five against Texas Woman's University last season (a span of 21 games).

IS THAT TRUE
In one of the more odd stats of the season, Midwestern State is 2-0 when they commit 20 or more turnovers 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.

NEW YEAR JITTERS?
Midwestern State has struggled coming out of the holiday break, losing their last four games to open a new year. MSU last won their first game of a new year during the 2014-2015 season, when they hammered Texas Woman's, 61-47.
 

1/3/19	Texas A&M-Commerce 70 MSU 57	Wichita Falls, Texas
1/4/18	No. 2 West Texas A&M 64 MSU 46	Canyon, Texas
1/5/17	West Texas A&M 79 MSU 53	Wichita Falls, Texas
1/2/16	Texas Woman's 71 MSU 45	Denton, Texas
1/1/15	MSU 61 Texas Woman's 47	Denton, Texas

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 155-158 (.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 to land her 133rd career victory.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
UT Tyler is off to a 2-7 (0-5) start in their first season in the Lone Star Conference. The Patriots have dropped three straight games after a 65-49 loss to Texas Woman's on December 21. Six of the Patriots' seven losses have come by double figures. UT Tyler took part in the Ashbrook Classic hosted by Midwestern State to open the season, but did not face the Mustangs, instead taking on Dixie State and Westminster. Kelsey Crouse paces the Patriots with 8.9 PPG while Beezy Birchette averages a team-high 6.7 RPG.   

UP NEXT
The Mustangs lock horns with Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.