FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Mustangs take on Arkansas-Fort Smith for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon in Fort Smith. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma Christian buried 9-of-12 three-pointers in the second half and finished 11-of-17 from deep (64.7%), the highest percentage for a Lone Star Conference team this season, in an 89-73 victory over Midwestern State on Thursday. Down 52-47 at the half, MSU Texas watched Oklahoma Christian hit five of their first six three-pointers to open the second half to pull away. Reigning Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week Elizabeth Cathcart led all scorers with 20 points. Kendall Blackburn and Megan Shelton each scored 16 points for the host Eagles. 
 
PLAYOFF RACE HEATING UP
Midwestern State slid into a tie for 10th place in the Lone Star Conference standings after Thursday night's 89-73 loss to divisional foe Oklahoma Christian. The top 12 teams qualify for the postseason. UT Tyler is ineligible for postseason play as they transition from Division III to Division II. 
 

Lone Star Conference Women's Standings
Team (Overall Record)	LSC Record
Texas A&M-Commerce (18-0)	12-0
West Texas A&M (17-3)	10-1
Lubbock Christian (15-2)	9-2
Angelo State (10-5)	7-4
St. Mary's (8-8)	7-5
St. Edward's (11-6)	7-5
Tarleton State (12-5)	6-5
Eastern New Mexico (12-5)	6-5
Oklahoma Christian (6-10)	6-6
Midwestern State (7-8)	5-6
Cameron (6-11)	5-6
Arkansas-Fort Smith (8-10)	5-7
UT Permian Basin (8-10)	5-7
Texas Woman's (6-9)	4-7
Texas A&M International (7-11)	4-8
Western New Mexico (6-10)	3-9
Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-11)	2-10
Not eligible for postseason play
UT Tyler (3-13)	1-11

SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State and Arkansas-Fort Smith have only met twice on the hardwood, with each team coming away with a win. MSU Texas won the first meeting in Wichita Falls, 70-66 (12/3/14) while UAFS won the only meeting in the Natural State, 100-58 (11/28/15). 
 
RISLEY FILLS UP THE STAT SHEET
Haevyn Risley logged her best all around game of the season against Oklahoma Christian. The sophomore tied a career-high with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Risley added six rebounds, six assists, and six steals.  

MICA'S MAKING MOVES
Mica Schneider scored in double figures for the third straight game, pouring in 12 points, all in the second quarter, in Thursday night's LSC clash with Oklahoma Christian. The senior is averaging 16.0 points per game during the three-game stretch. 

GUARD THE ARC
Oklahoma Christian went 11-of-17 (64.7%) from deep on Thursday night, the highest percentage for a Lone Star Conference team this season. Over their last six games, Midwestern State has allowed opponents to shoot 52-of-125 from deep (41.6%).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elizabeth Cathcart became the first Mustang to win the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week award after averaging 20.5 PPG in a pair of wins over Cameron last week. Cathcart scored a career-high 23 points, including 13 points in the second half to lift Midwestern State to a come-from-behind win over Cameron on January 15. The senior shot 9-of-15 from the floor. Then last Saturday, the senior scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and recorded three blocks as the Mustangs swept the Red River Rivalry. Cathcart's block of Maighan Hedge's game-tying three-point attempt with four seconds remaining secured the win for MSU 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 158-162 (.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 to land her 133rd career victory.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Arkansas-Fort Smith dropped to 8-10 (5-7) following a 73-68 loss to Cameron on Thursday night. Maighan Hedge poured in 29 points for the visiting Aggies, making it the sixth time this season the Lions allowed a player to score at least 20 points. Leading scorer Mar'Shalia Lollie (9.7 PPG) was held to six points against Cameron and has reached double figures just once over the last five games. Lollie did score 39 points against St. Edward's earlier this season, the most by a Lone Star Conference player in a game this season.  

UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns home on January 30 for a Lone Star Conference matchup against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.