WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Midwestern State went 10:43 without a field goal in the second half of an 80-60 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon. After Shawnisay Millar's layup with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter gave the Mustangs a 41-40 edge, MSU Texas did not score another shot from the floor until Frances King made a layup and was fouled with 6:37 remaining in the fourth. During the stretch, MSU Texas converted 10 free throws but went 0-of-7 from the floor and committed eight turnovers. By the time King's layup went through the hoop, the Maroon and Gold trailed 63-53. Kityana Diaz scored 13 points and Frances King tied a career-high with 12 points. MSU Texas and UAFS were tied 32-32 at halftime. 
 
PLAYOFF RACE HEATING UP
Midwestern State dropped into the 12th and final playoff spot following Saturday's loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith. 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 (19-0)	13-0
West Texas A&M (18-3)	11-1
Lubbock Christian (16-2)	10-2
Angelo State (11-5)	8-4
Eastern New Mexico (13-5)	7-5
Tarleton State (13-5)	7-5
St. Mary's (8-9)	7-6
St. Edward's (11-7)	7-6
Cameron (7-11)	6-6
Oklahoma Christian (6-11)	6-7
Arkansas-Fort Smith (9-10)	6-7
Midwestern State (7-9)	5-7
UT Permian Basin (8-11)	5-8
Texas Woman's (6-10)	4-8
Texas A&M International (7-12)	4-9
Western New Mexico (7-10)	4-9
Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-12)	2-11
Not eligible for postseason play
UT Tyler (3-14)	1-12

SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State owns a 29-18 mark against the Javelinas of Texas A&M-Kingsville and have won four of the last five meetings. The teams split last season's two meetings, with MSU Texas earning a 75-66 win in Wichita Falls and TAMUK coming away with a 71-67 win in Kingsville. 
 
DYNAMIC DIAZ
Kityana Diaz poured in 13 points at Arkansas-Fort Smith, making it the third time in the last five games the junior has reached double figures. Diaz is averaging 10.6 points per game during the stretch and has gotten to the free throw line 35 times. 

KING IS KING 
Redshirt freshman Frances King tied a career-high with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting on January 25. It was the first time King had reached double figures since January 2 at UT Tyler, a span of seven games. 

CUTTING DOWN THE THREES
A game after attempting 29 three-pointers against Oklahoma Christian, their most three point attempts since also attempting 29 against OC on 11/11/17, MSU Texas finished 0-of-2 from deep in Saturday's loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith. It was the first time the Mustangs failed to make a three-pointer in a game since going 0-of-4 from deep against McMurry (Texas) on 11/26/13, a span of more than six years.

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 158-163 (.492) 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 JAVELINAS
Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-12, 2-11) dropped their fifth straight game, a 60-45 setback to Eastern New Mexico on January 25. During the slide, the Javelinas have been beaten by an average of 15.8 points per game. Ravae Payne (11.9 PPG) and Jalynn Johnson (8.1 PPG) pace TAMUK in scoring while Anastacia Mickens (7.1 RPG) has been a force on the glass. The Javelinas sit dead last in the Lone Star Conference in scoring offense, averaging 49.1 PPG (next is UT Tyler at 54.5 PPG). Defensively, TAMUK possesses the sixth stingiest defense, holding opponents to 60.3 PPG. 

UP NEXT
The Maroon and Gold play host to Texas A&M International on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.