WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Five players scored in double figures in Midwestern State's 70-57 win over Western New Mexico Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Senior
Hannah Reynolds and junior
Shawnisay Millar each scored 14 points as the Mustangs improved to 12-10 on the season and 6-6 in Lone Star Conference play.
"One of our keys to the game was fast breaks," MSU coach
Christopher Reay said. "We felt we had real advantage pushing the ball."
Midwestern State recorded 19 fast break points and held Western New Mexico to two.
"When we are working the ball, running the plays and finding each other, that is when we are at our best," Reay said.
MSU jumped out to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mustangs shot 10-of-18 from the field for their best shooting of the game.
Frances King tallied six of her 11 points in the first period. The sophomore added five assists and a career-high three blocks.
Markayla Johnson's three-point play at the 0:55 mark put Midwestern State ahead by 13 points before Olivia Lee's layup cut the lead to 11 before the buzzer.
WNMU opened the second quarter with three 3-pointers to trail by just six at the 7:05 mark. Kaela Chavez scored six of her nine total points in less than a minute. Western New Mexico went 3-of-5 from behind the arc and pulled down 23 rebounds in the first half.
Midwestern State fell to 41 percent shooting from the floor, but still maintained the 35-25 lead at halftime.
Western New Mexico reeled off a 10-2 run early in the third quarter to pull within two points late in the third period.
"They had a run when they were hitting shots and that's where we went into a lull," Reay said. "We got back into it by guarding their threes and executing properly on offense. The ball started going in again."
The rest of the quarter was the battle of the threes and free-throws. MSU was 2-of-4 from the line while WNM tallied 71 percent at the charity stripe. Midwestern State hit 2-of-5 from behind the arc as Western New Mexico went 3-for-3.
MSU found the hole again in the fourth quarter, hitting 54 percent from the field. The Mustangs extended the advantage to a game-high 17 points with 1:20 left to play.
Morgan Lenahan fueled a 10-1 run by scoring eight points.
Western New Mexico shot 31 percent from the floor in the final period. Lee finished with a double-double leading WNMU with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She added a pair of blocks and a steal. Cynaye Bobbitt also had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Reynolds led MSU with eight rebounds while Lenahan and King each tallied five assists. Lenahan completed a 13-point game while
Sheridan Bostic and King added 12 and 11 points.
"We are going to rest this weekend," Reay said. "We have two huge games. Kingsville and International are playing really well, especially at home. We will have to stick together and fight those ones out."
Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday night at Steinke Center. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
--MSUMustangs.com--
