MIDWESTERN STATE (8-4, 8-4 LSC)
vs ST. EDWARD'S (5-7, 5-7)
Monday, Feb. 8 – 5:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)
All-Time Series: Midwestern State leads 13-7
 
WICHITA FALLS -- Midwestern State makes up an earlier postponed game against St. Edward's University on Feb. 8. The Lone Star Conference crossover match-up takes place Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
FIVE STORY LINES
 
1 | It is the battle of thirds as the Hilltoppers and Mustangs both sit at third in their respective Lone Star Conference divisions (South and West). The two have had similar outcomes against the same opponents this year. Both schools played Texas A&M-Commerce with St. Edward's dropping both games 74-85 and 62-73 in mid December. Midwestern State beat out A&M Commerce at home 85-82 on Jan. 10. The squads both beat UT Tyler in their two-game series. West Texas A&M split with MSU in early January. MSU won 87-80 in double overtime at home while West Texas overcame 78-60 in their house. SEU dropped both games to West Texas in late January (42-77, 38-72).
 
2 | With an 8-4 mark, the Mustangs are off to their best start through 12 games since the 2014-15 squad went 10-1. Their only loss through 11 games came in the second game of the season opening Ashbrook Classic to traditionally strong Emporia State (62-51). This season, MSU is a perfect 4-0 on the home floor at D.L. Ligon Coliseum and now 4-4 on the road.
 
3 | Winning the battle on the boards has been the greatest predictor of success for Midwestern State under coach Christopher Reay. The Mustangs are 10-4 when controlling an edge on the boards since Reay took over last season and in seven of their eight wins this season. MSU ranks fourth in the LSC and 43rd in NCAA Division II with a +4.9 rebound margin.
 
4 | Two of the five best assist women in the Lone Star Conference square off this week at D.L Ligon Coliseum. Midwestern State's Frances King ranks fourth in the league with 42 assists for the season. She has posted at least four assists in ten of her 12 outings this season including a season-high of six in the opener at Cameron. St. Edward's junior guard Christina Mason has 41 assists for the year and ranks fifth in the conference. Her season high seven assists cam against Texas A&M International.
 
5 | Senior guard Morgan Lenahan leads Midwestern State scoring 12.8 points per game this season and led the squad in scoring a team-best six times this season. The Haddonfield, N.J. native tallied in double figures in nine of 12 games this season boasting her best performances in the Mustangs' biggest victories. Lenahan booked a campaign-high 25 points in a win over West Texas A&M on Jan. 2, then had 21 points in a victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 10. Lenahan also leads the team in rebounds with 6.2 per game. She had 16 total rebounds in the two-game series against Oklahoma Christian on Feb. 5 and 6.
 
HEAD COACH 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 12-10 (.550) heading into Monday's game. 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.
 
THE SERIES WITH THE HILLTOPPERS
Midwestern State and St. Edward's meet for the 20th time on the hardwood Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs are 7-1 when playing the Hilltoppers at home. The only loss came on Jan. 9, 2020 when the Hilltoppers beat out the Mustangs in Wichita Falls 86-74. This was the first conference match-up between the two. Overall, MSU holds a 13-7 edge over SEU, which dates back to the 1990-91 season. Before the 2020 game, the two teams had not played since 2010. Midwestern State succumbed 67-72 in Austin, Texas.
 

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