Midwestern State vs. Lubbock Christian
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 | 5:30 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center | Lubbock, Texas
Series: MSU leads 23-7
Audio | Watch | Live Stats
StangGang Women's Basketball Podcast (1/26)
 
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Midwestern State hits the road for a Lone Star Conference series match-up against Lubbock Christian University on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
CROWD RESTRICTIONS
Rip Griffin Center is regulated at 50% capacity.
 
EVENT COVERAGE
The game streams live on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. A video stream is available at the cost of $10 for a daily pass at LoneStarConferenceNetwork/msu. A complimentary audio stream is also available at the same site.
 
REAY TAKES THE REINS
Christopher Reay is in the midst of his first full season at the helm of his alma mater. He guided the Mustangs to a 4-6 mark over the final 10 games in 2019-20 serving in an interim role following Noel Johnson's leave of absence to continue her fight against ovarian cancer.  His career coaching record stands at 10-8 (.556) heading into weekend play. Reay served as the top assistant for the previous 10 campaigns playing a hand in guiding MSU to three consecutive NCAA Division II South Central Regionals from 2012-15 as MSU claimed a Lone Star Conference regular and postseason tournament titles in 2012-13. Reay competed two seasons at Midwestern State in 2006-07 and 2007-08 after transferring from SMU helping MSU to an LSC postseason tournament championship and a regional semifinal appearance in 2007.
 
CONTINUING THE LEGACY
Dianna Jones takes over as the top assistant at Midwestern State. Jones was a key cog in the Mustangs' three runs to the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals and for MSU's Lone Star Conference championship squad in 2012-13. She earned first-team All-LSC honors as a senior after gaining honorable mention as a junior. She was the league's freshman of the year in 2012. Jones, who was a member of Waco Midway High's Class 4A title squad in 2009, served as an assistant coach at Temple College last season. She played professionally in Egypt, Mexico and El Salvador.
 
MUSTANGS TEAM NOTES
* Midwestern State moved up one spot to No. 5 in this week's D2SIDA South Central Region rankings. The Mustangs own victories over No. 3 West Texas A&M and No. 4 Texas A&M-Commerce. Lubbock Christian tops the poll followed by Western Colorado, WT, West Texas A&M, TAMUC, and MSU.
* The Mustangs extended their winning streak to five games which is the longest since MSU claimed five straight victories from Jan. 1-11, 2015 and Jan. 21-Feb. 7, 2015.
* Midwestern State extended its home court winning streak to seven games with an 82-49 win over UT Tyler on Jan. 16 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. It is MSU's longest winning streak under the dome since the Mustangs claimed seven consecutive victories at Ligon Coliseum from Nov. 18, 2014 to Jan. 7, 2015. MSU's last loss came to Texas A&M-Commerce (92-77) on Feb. 13, 2020. The Mustangs have won seven of their last ten at Rip Griffin Center.
* Midwestern State erupted to hit combined 24 3-pointers in last weekend's sweep of Texas Woman's at Kitty Magee Arena. The Mustangs connected on just 20 triples over the previous five games this season. MSU drained a program record 15 3-pointers in the Jan.15, 82-49 win over the Patriots on the strength of Sheridan Bostic's individual program single-game record of seven triples. The Mustangs followed with nine 3-pointers in a 75-60 win over UT Tyler on Saturday Jan 16.
* Midwestern State is second in the Lone Star Conference and 33rd in NCAA Division II in rebound margin at +5.7. The Mustangs have out-rebounded the opposition in six of seven wins this season and are 9-2 with Christopher Reay as head coach when controlling the glass.
* Midwestern State rates fifth in the LSC and 46th in NCAA Division II chasing down 13.3 offensive rebounds per game. The Mustangs tallied double-digit second-chance points in six of their seven victories. MSU has amassed 120 second-chance points in nine games this season for an average of 13 points per contest.
* Midwestern State ranks fourth in the LSC and 66th nationally scoring 70.2 points per game. The Mustangs are on pace for their best scoring season since tallying 75.0 points per game in 2003-04.
 
MUSTANGS INDIVIDUAL NOTES
* Senior guard Morgan Lenahan leads Midwestern State in scoring ranking 11th in the Lone Star Conference at 13.4 points per game. She boasts a pair of 20-point performances including a season-high 25 points in a win over West Texas A&M, then booked 21 points in a victory over Texas A&M-Commerce. Lenahan scored in double figures in seven of nine games this season and is coming off of a team-high eight rebound and five assist effort Saturday against Texas Woman's.
* Sophomore guard Frances King broke into a scoring binge with a double-figure effort in last weekend's win at Texas Woman's. She combined to connect on 11-of-20 shots (55 percent) with two 3-pointers last time out against Texas Woman's. King ranks second in the LSC and 45th in NCAA Division II dishing out 4.2 assists per game. She has recorded at least four assists in eight of nine games this season.
* Junior forward Shawnisay Millar ranks third on the squad averaging 9.7 points per game. She scored in double figures four times this season including a campaign and career high of 18 points against Texas A&M-Commerce. Millar ranks fifth in the league in free throw makes (28) and ranks sixth in attempts (38) and is 12th in the LSC in free throw percentage (73.7).
* Junior forward Haevyn Risley boasts averages of 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 69.8 percent from the floor (30-of-43). The active defensive minded performer ranks 16th in the LSC in rebounds per game, eighth in blocked shots per game (1.0), and 18th with 13 steals.
* Seniors Hannah Reynolds and Kityana Diaz helped the team off the bench in Saturday's win at Texas Woman's. Reynolds came off of the bench to score four points and grab three rebounds in 23 minutes, while Diaz went for three points and three rebounds in 22 minutes in a reserve role.
 
ABOUT THE LADY CHAPS
Lubbock Christian is starting their second season in the Lone Star Conference on a roll with an eight game winning streak. The Lady Chaps have had two games postponed because of COVID-19. In their last series, Lubbock Christian routed Texas A&M International 71-61 and 85-42. They rate in the top ten of eight NCAA Division II categories. The Lady Chaps are led thus far by senior guard Allie Schulte who averages 14.9 points per game and is followed closely behind by fellow senior guard Ashton Duncan who averages 11.8 points per game. Senior forward Emma Middleton leads the team in blocks with 15 and has a 9.1 points per game average. The team's defense shows focus through their scoring defense at 47.1 and a number one rank in the LSC and third in NCAA Division II. Steve Gomez posted a 234-96 record in his 10th season at the helm in Lubbock (including NAIA games).

ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Lubbock Christian meet for the 31st time on the hardwood Wednesday night at Rip Griffin Center. The Mustangs own a 23-7 lead in the series which dates back to the 1981-82 season. The Mustangs have won 13 of the last 16 matchups. MSU is 7-5 all-time against the Lady Chaps at Rip Griffin Center.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State takes on Lubbock Christian again in the second leg of the home-and-home series. The Mustangs and the Lady Chaps rematch at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m.