ODESSA, Texas -- Midwestern State takes down UT Permian Basin 70-58 with Morgan Lenahan posting 31 points in the match. MSU holds down the defensive side, allowing only 35 percent shooting for the Falcons. The Mustangs move to 8-6 on the season and 3-2 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
UT Permian Basin jumped to an early 5-0 lead to start the game, which was quickly turned around by back-to-back threes from Morgan Lenahan. Shawnisay Millar added two blocks in the first five minutes while Markayla Johnson contributed two steals. Johnson was good for seven points, knocking down three of six from the field and adding a three. The guard grabbed six rebounds.
 
Frances King went three for three from the line to punch five points in the first ten minutes.
 
The home side saw a down stretch with four turnovers and no scores for a three-and-a-half-minute stretch. The Falcons had seven total turnovers to give MSU eight points in the first quarter while Midwestern State's seven giveaways only turned into five points for UTPB.
 
Neither team really shined on the offensive side with the Mustangs shooting 36 percent from the floor and UT Permian Basin held at 33 percent. However, both teams stood at 100 percent from the line with MSU draining three free throws and the Falcons with four.
 
Avalon Munoz clinched a last second three to put the home side down by just one point at the final buzzer. The guard led her squad with 14 points, going five of 14 from the floor. Midwestern State held a 16-15 lead going into the second quarter.
 
Lenahan claimed an early five points in the second period, but UTPB stuck close with a Holly Hemmeline three and a Kamari Portalis jumper. Hemmeline tallied six points for the Falcons while Portalis was good for seven points, going three of seven from the field.
 
MSU had a three-minute stretch with no score and three turnovers while the Falcons were also one of seven during the run.
 
The Mustangs gained the largest lead of the game on eight points with less than three minutes until halftime. Lenahan's fourth three of the night put the score at 31-23 with an MSU advantage.
 
With the halftime whistle, the visitors grab a 36-30 lead, shooting 53 percent from field in the second. They add 57 percent shooting from range with Lenahan knocking down three more threes in the second ten-minute period. The Mustangs were still 100 percent from the line with King draining all five attempts. The sophomore recorded 11 points for the Mustangs and registered eight assists. She also added a career-high five steals.
 
UT Permian Basin still struggled in shooting as they were held to 37 percent from the floor and 28 from distance. The team completed one free throw in the quarter.
 
Morgan Helgesen's three-point play opened scoring in the third quarter. The freshman added a jumper for five points and concluded the night going two of five from the floor. UTPB gained a 37-36 lead on Portalis' layup.
 
Lenahan regained the lead on fouled layup while Millar added first two points on free throws. The forward posted four points and two boards on the night. MSU took over a 10-0 run for three minutes of play while holding UTPB scoreless over three and a half minutes.
 
The Falcons finally end the drought on Ally Haman's jumper. UTPB fell to 29 percent shooting from the floor and were 0 of 6 from distance for the third period. MSU was 5 of 11 from the field and missed both three-point attempts. The Mustangs drained all six free throws.
 
Sheridan Bostic started MSU scoring with a three pointer, the eighth team make. The sophomore drained three from distance to total nine points for the Mustangs. King took a steal and layup to add to Midwestern State's six points run over one minute. With seven minutes to play, MSU held a 61-45 lead.
 
Ogechi NWodo's steal and drained free throw helped to keep UTP chugging along and end streak. The forward punched nine points and ten rebounds, just shy of a double-double.
 
Jordan Mathis and Hannah Reynolds each tallied four points with Reynolds grabbing six boards and one block.
 
MSU knocked down six of their final eight field goals to find their third LSC win of the season. On the night, the visitors shot 51 percent from the field and 52 percent from deep. They also made all 11 free throw attempts for their highest percentage of the season. UT Permian Basin concluded shooting 35 percent for the game and just 17 percent from behind the arc. They were 11 of 13 from the line as they drop to 4-11 on the season.
 
Midwestern State takes a short pause on Lone Star Conference play next week to take on Texas Woman's in a nonconference slate. Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas, hosts the two teams on Thursday, Jan. 20. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. with coverage available online.