WICHITA FALLS, Texas - The Mustangs look to snap a three-game slide when they take the floor on Saturday afternoon for a Lone Star Conference clash with UT Tyler. Tipoff inside D.L. Ligon Coliseum is at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Mica Schneider scored 20 points in the first half, en route to a career-high 31 points, but the tandem of Alexis Bryant (21 points) and Maddison Glass (20 points) proved to be too much as No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce stayed perfect with a 92-77 win over the Mustangs on Thursday night. The Mustangs trailed the Lions by 13 points at the half before a furious second half rally. A 12-4 run late in the third quarter trimmed a 13-point deficit to five at 60-55 before the Lions rattled off four of the next six points to hold a 64-57 edge after three. MSU Texas again cut the deficit to five in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter but the Lions had an answer, this time with an 11-5 run. TAMUC led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
PLAYOFF RACE HEATING UP
Midwestern State stayed locked into the 12th and final playoff spot despite Thursday's loss to Texas A&M Commerce. The Mustangs hold just a 0.5 game lead over UT Permian Basin for the final playoff spot. UT Tyler is ineligible for the playoffs as they transition from Division III to Division II. 
 

Lone Star Conference Women's Standings
Team (Overall Record)	LSC Record
Texas A&M-Commerce (23-0)	17-0
West Texas A&M (21-5)	14-3
Lubbock Christian (20-3)	14-3
Tarleton State (18-5)	12-5
Eastern New Mexico (17-6)	11-6
Angelo State (14-8)	11-7
Cameron (11-12)	10-7
St. Mary's (11-11)	10-8
St. Edward's (14-9)	10-8
Arkansas-Fort Smith (12-12)	9-9
Oklahoma Christian (7-14)	7-10
Midwestern State (8-13)	6-11
UT Permian Basin (9-15)	6-12
Texas Woman's (7-14)	5-12
Texas A&M International (8-15)	5-12
Western New Mexico (8-14)	5-13
Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-15)	3-14
Not eligible for postseason play
UT Tyler (3-18)	1-16

SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State has won both meetings in lopsided fashion, including an 81-63 win earlier this season in Tyler. In 2018, the Mustangs came away with a 95-36 victory. 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).

MICA THE MAGNIFICENT
Mica Schneider set a new career-high with 31 points and seven three-pointers in Thursday's game. The senior hit each of her first four attempts from deep and had 20 points at the half. Schneider has now set and then broken career-highs in each of her last two home games (26 points vs Texas A&M International and 31 points vs Texas A&M-Commerce).

WITHEY WOWS AGAIN
Freshman Mandy Withey tied a career-high with six rebounds on Thursday night against No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce. The Granbury, Texas native is averaging 4 rebounds per game over her last three games.

TOP 10 FOR CATHCART
MSU Texas leading scorer Elizabeth Cathcart (13.6 PPG) scored 16 points against Texas A&M-Commerce, making it the 17th time this season the senior has reached double figures. Cathcart sits ninth in the Lone Star Conference in scoring and sixth in field goal percentage (.461)

BREAK THE STREAK
The Mustangs have lost three games in a row and six of seven since sweeping the Red River Rivalry from Cameron (January 15 & January 18). 

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
UT Tyler's losing streak hit eight games following an 89-66 loss to Cameron Thursday. The Patriots are 3-18 (1-16) in their first season in the Lone Star Conference after transitioning from Division III. Carah Burdette scored 14 points to pace the Patriots on Thursday night with Kylea Johnson and Kelsey Crouse each adding 13 points. Crouse, UT Tyler's leading scorer at 11.4 PPG, is the only Patriot averaging in double figures this season. UTT averages 55.3 points per game, the second worst in the LSC while allowing 71.8 points per game, placing them 15th in the 18 team conference.

ABOUT THE FIRST TIME
Midwestern State came away with an 81-63 win in the first meeting in early January. The Mustangs used a 10-0 spurt over the final 3:28 of the first half to take a 45-31 lead into the break. The Patriots cut the deficit to six early in the third but MSU Texas responded with a 13-2 run to put the game out of reach. Freshman Eternity Jackson made her first career start and scored eight points while Elizabeth Cathcart (13 points), Mica Schneider (12 points), Hannah Reynolds (10 points) and Frances King (10 points) all reached double figures. Kelsey Crouse scored 18 for the Patriots to lead all scorers. 
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State welcomes Arkansas-Fort Smith to D.L. Ligon Coliseum on February 20. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.