WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State welcomes the Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith to D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Mica Schneider scored 25 points and hit 7-of-8 free throws over the final 2:12 as the Mustangs held off UT Tyler, 64-60. Midwestern State led by as much as 18 points in the second half before the pesky Patriots closed to within a single point on four separate occasions in the fourth quarter. Each time, the Mustangs answered with points of their own. 
 
PLAYOFF RACE HEATING UP
Midwestern State moved into a tie with Oklahoma Christian for 11th place following Saturday's victory. However, the Eagles currently hold the tie-breaker by virtue of winning the first meeting. The two sides square off again on Saturday. 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)	18-0
Lubbock Christian (21-3)	15-3
West Texas A&M (22-5)	15-3
Tarleton State (19-5)	13-5
Angelo State (14-8)	11-7
Eastern New Mexico (17-7)	11-7
St. Mary's (12-11)	11-8
St. Edward's (15-9)	11-8
Cameron (11-13)	10-8
Arkansas-Fort Smith (12-12)	9-9
Oklahoma Christian (7-15)	7-11
Midwestern State (9-13)	7-11
Texas A&M International (9-15)	6-12
UT Permian Basin (9-16)	6-13
Texas Woman's (7-15)	5-13
Western New Mexico (8-15)	5-14
Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-16)	3-15
Not eligible for postseason play
UT Tyler (3-19)	1-17

SERIES HISTORY
Arkansas-Fort Smith took a 2-1 edge in the all-time series after winning earlier this season, 80-60. The Lions have posted back-to-back blowout wins, also coming away with a 100-58 win in 2015. The Mustangs lone win in the series came in December of 2014, a 70-66 result in Wichita Falls.

MICA THE MAGNIFICENT
Mica Schneider capped off an incredible two-game stretch by being named Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Schneider scored a career-high 31 points against No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce on February 13. The senior drained a career-high seven three-pointers and ended the night 11-of-21 from the floor. The 31 points marked the most points an opponent has scored against the unbeaten Lions this season. Two days later, Schneider poured in 25 points and hit six more three-pointers to lift the Mustangs to a win over UT Tyler. The Boerne, Texas native hit 7-of-8 free throws over the final 2:12 to seal the win. For the week, Schneider averaged 28.0 points per game and nailed 13 three-pointers.

CONSISTENT CATHCART
Elizabeth Cathcart continued her strong senior season on Saturday with a 12-point showing. Cathcart finished 6-of-12 from the floor and has scored at least 10 points in 18 games the season. 

LSC TOP 10
Midwestern State is well represented on the Lone Star Conference leaderboards. Elizabeth Cathcart sits 8th in the league in scoring at 13.5 PPG and fifth in field goal percentage (.463) while Mica Schneider is fifth in the league with 3.8 assists per game. Schneider also has the second best assist/turnover ratio in the LSC at 1.9 (83/44). 

BREAK THE STREAK
Midwestern State will try on Thursday to win two games in a row for the first time since defeating Cameron in a home and home series on January 15 and 18. 

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Arkansas-Fort Smith dropped to 12-12 on the season and 9-9 in the Lone Star Conference after falling 73-72 to Angelo State on Saturday. The Lions led by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter before ASU came roaring back, outscoring the Lions 23-11 over the final 9:06. Ashanti Eden scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting for UAFS while Leiloni Culley added 19 points. Mar'Shalia Lollie leads the Lions in scoring at 10.3 PPG, the player to average in double figures. Freshman Hannah Boyett, who scored 26 points against the Mustangs in late January, averages 9.9 PPG. On the glass, Tamera Gulley (7.7 RPG - 6th in LSC) and Lollie (7.2 RPG - 8th in LSC) are one of three pairs of teammates to rank in the top 10 in the LSC in rebounding (Eastern New Mexico & Texas A&M-Commerce). As a team, UAFS averages 64.2 PPG, placing them 14th in the 18-team LSC. 

ABOUT THE FIRST TIME
Midwestern State went 10:43 without a field goal in the second half of an 80-60 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith on January 25. After Shawnisay Millar's layup with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter gave the Mustangs a 41-40 edge, MSU Texas did not make 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 in the loss while Frances King added 12 points. Hannah Boyett poured in 26 points and drilled six three-pointers for the Lions. 
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State closes out the home portion of their schedule on Saturday against Oklahoma Christian. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.