Midwestern State vs UC Colorado Springs
Friday, Nov. 12 -- 5:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)
All-Time Series: 

Midwestern State vs Adams State
Saturday, Nov. 13 -- 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)
All-Time Series: 

WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State opens the 2021-22 season with the tenth annual Ashbrook Classic hosted at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs kick-off the two-day classic facing UC Colorado Springs on Friday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. The following day, the team battles Adams State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13. 

The games are available via streaming video on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. A free audio stream featuring the Voice of the Mustangs -- Pete Stein -- is also available at MSUMustangs.com/streaming.

All fans must purchase tickets online, then present the QR code to scan at the gate for admittance. No walk-up tickets are available. Purchase your tickets at www.msumustangs.com/tickets.
 

FIVE STORY LINES

1|  Midwestern State is 6-4 in home openers since the 2011-12 season. This includes a 77-62 defeat over Adams State in the Ashbrook Classic in 2014. Due to the shortened season in 2020-21, the Mustangs' first game on their home floor did not occur until Jan. 2, 2021. MSU took home a thrilling 87-80 double overtime victory against West Texas A&M in Ligon Coliseum's first hosting gig of the season.

2|  The Mustangs were tabbed at fifth in the 2021 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll as voted by coaches, sports information directors and media members. During the shortened COVID-19 2020-21 season, MSU finished 11-7 overall and 11-5 in LSC play. The team grabbed fifth in the final league standings while making it as far as the quarterfinals in the post season tournament.

3|  The Mustangs return 10 letterwinners off of an 11-7 squad that finished the 2020-21 season in the quarterfinal round of the LSC Postseason Tournament. Morgan Lenahan, led MSU with conference best 15.8 points per game and added 5.4 defensive rebounds per game. The 2020-21 LSC Newcomer of the Year shot better than 40 percent from the field and from beyond the 3-point arc. Sophomore guard Frances Kin, a  second-team All-LSC performer, averaged 11.2 points and four assists per game, to rank sixth in the LSC and 68th in NCAA Division II. Senior Hannah Reynolds gained honorable mention All-LSC averaging 8.8 points per game. The forward picked up a conference fourth best 21 blocked shots to rank 74th in DII. Junior Shawnisay Millar (7.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), sophomore Sheriden Bostic (4.7 ppg, 1,9 rpg) and sophomore Eternity Jackson (3.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg) each saw time in 18 games while Mandey Withey (5.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) gained time in 13 games due to injury. Sophomore Markayla Johnson and freshmen Kenshawnna Reed and Maya Kendall also return for the squad. The Mustangs add two sophomore transfers to the mix in Yasmine Sifaoui (Robert Morris) and Jordan Mathis (Pratt CC). Two freshmen join the team in Maiyah Watkins (Marcus HS) and Kassidy Comer (Magnolia West HS).

4|  UC Colorado Springs was picked in a three-way tie for 11th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll. Adams State and Fort Lewis were also in the tie. During the 2020-21 season, the Mountain Lions gained a 5-12 record, finishing 12th in the RMAC. UCCS landed two players on the RMAC Players to Watch list in sophomore Jessica Nation and graduate transfer Jasmine Jeffcoat. Nation averaged 8.8 points in 24.5 minutes while shooting 43 percent from the field. Jeffcoat comes from the University of Dener where she tallied 3.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Lynn Plett is in his sixth season as head coach of the Mountain Lions.

5|  Adams State was also picked 11th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll. This is the highest finish for the Grizzlies under head coach Jaime Green, who is entering her third season at the helm. In 2020-21, Adams State went 4-10 in conference play to place tenth in the standings. The Grizzlies' leading scorer, Laura Gutierrez returns as she posted 11.7 points in the previous season.


HEAD COACH CHRISTOPHER REAY begins his second 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. In the shortened COVID 2020-21 season, Reay helped the Mustangs to an 11-7 overall record while going 11-5 in Lone Star Conference play. The team finished fifth in the standings and reached the quarterfinals in the postseason tournament. His career coaching record stands at 15-13 (.536) heading into the 2021-22 season. 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.
 

SERIES AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN LIONS

Midwestern State and UC Colorado Springs meet for just the second time on Friday night. The two teams last faced-off in 2016 at the Best Western Premier Pioneer Classic hosted by Texas Woman's in Denton, Texas. The Mountain Lions walked away with 61-55 victory to hand the Mustangs their first loss of the season. Avery Queen and Kristin Rydell led MSU with 17 and 12 points each.

SERIES AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES

Midwestern State owns a 2-1 advantage over Adams State, with the last victory coming in the 2016 Ashbrook Classic. The Mustangs walked away with the 72-55 defeat to clinch their first win of the season. The Mustangs posted a similar win in 2014 over the Grizzlies, again in the Ashbrook Classic. Adams State bested MSU in 2013 on their home floor by 64-56.