ODESSA, Texas – Midwestern State could not finish the 2020-21 regular season on a high-note with the 66-74 loss to UT Permian Basin on Saturday afternoon. The game at Falcon Dome determined the Mustangs seed for the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

MSU finishes the season 11-6 and has fifth rank for the postseason tournament.

The visitors started the game on the backside with UTPB going up 5-0 within two minutes. Hannah Reynolds scored first to put the Mustangs on the board. The senior had 16 total points for the night, which is her season best game. The 6-4 forward went out with a bang with shooting 50 percent from the field, downing all four of her free throws and grabbing six rebounds.

The Falcons consistently lead through the first until two jumpers by Mandy Withey and one by Eternity Jackson put Midwestern State even with the hosts at the end of the quarter. Withey added eight points and six boards for the night.

At 11 each, the Mustangs shot 41 percent on field goals and 50 percent with threes and held the Falcons to just 18 percent from the field and 28 percent three-point shooting.

MSU grabbed six quick points to start the next period and got the jump on UTPB. Jackson seized her second basket of the night and added a helper in the run.

They gained their biggest lead of the quarter (12) over Permian Basin off a Morgan Lenahan-three. The senior guard registered eight points and five assists, dropping her three game 20+ point streak because of foul trouble.

The Falcons cut the seven-point lead to almost half by the time the buzzer sounded. Midwestern State went into the locker room leading 31-27.

After halftime, UTPB cut the Mustang's small lead to only one with a three-pointer by Jada Berry, who had 14 points and three rebounds.

Frances King nailed all five of her made free throws starting at 8:30 in the third. Five of eight from the line is a season-high for the sophomore. She and Shawnisay Millar scored 13 and 12 points each and recorded five and six rebounds for Midwestern State.

MSU barely kept the lead, with Permian Basin upping the Mustangs once from a Chaunta Thomas three-pointer. Reynolds quickly put the team back on top with a jumper and two throws. The battle until the end wound the quarter at 50-44 with Midwestern leading.

Unfortunately, the Falcons' 30-point final quarter outed the visitors in the heartbreaking loss. Morgan Helgesen scored 12 of her 15 points in the fourth to propel Permian Basin to the win. This is the second year in a row that Midwestern State dropped their final game of the regular season.

Fortunately, the Mustangs still qualify for the 2021 Lone Star Conference Basketball Championship. Based on the point rating system, they wind up ranked fifth with 3.618 rating. The team will travel to Lawton, Okla., to take on Cameron in the first round of the tournament. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2.