Midwestern State vs Oklahoma Christian

Saturday, Feb. 26 – 2 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)
All-Time Series: OC leads 9-8

WICHITA FALLS, Texas. -- Midwestern State concludes the Lone Star Conference regular season on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs host Oklahoma Christian in their quest to secure a spot in the LSC tournament. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. for the senior night game.

BLOCKED

Midwestern State continues to lead the Lone Star Conference with 134 blocked shots, which ranks 7th in Division II. The team's average of 5.4 blocks per game also leads the league and sits sixth in the NCAA. The Mustangs' opponents average 2.6 blocks. MSU is 9-4 when they have five or more blocks. The team broke the single-game program record with 14 blocks against Texas A&M International on Feb. 19, beating their previous record of 10 against Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 16, 2021.

TOP SHOOTING

MSU ranks in the top six of the conference for their shooting from the floor. The team's 40.7 field-goal percentage is sixth in the Lone Star Conference. Jordan Mathis shoots 56.4 percent from the field to lead the team. Midwestern State is 11-5 when they shoot at 38 percent or better. The best performance was against St. Edward's, when they went 27-of-52 (.519) from the floor on Jan. 6. The Mustangs' 32.7 three-pointer percentage is sixth in the LSC and 79th in the NCAA. Morgan Lenahan's 41 percent conversion from behind the arc leads the team. MSU was 6-of-10 (.600) from behind the arc at Lubbock Christian on Feb. 3 for the highest three-point percent of the season.

MUSTANG STARTING FIVE

Lenahan is the leading scorer for the Mustangs with a conference seventh-highest 14.7 points. The senior turned in 18 points against UAFS on Thursday for her eleventh 15-plus point performance of the season. She clinched 31 points versus UT Permian Basin (1/15) for her highest output on the year. On the season, she shoots 38 percent from the field and a team-second best 79 percent at the line. The guard is good for 40-of-98 from behind the arc. She averages 5.4 rebounds with a season-high nine boards against Oklahoma Christian (12/02). Haddonfield, N.J., native has 78 assists and eight blocks. Lenahan leads the Mustangs with 42 steals in 25 starts.

Frances King averages 12.9 points per game with a career-high 25 points posted against Texas Wesleyan (11/28). She clinched her second double-double of the season with 13 points and ten rebounds against UAFS on Thursday. The sophomore recently set the single-game record for assists against St. Mary's on Jan. 8. With her 13 assists, King overtook Mindy Myers' 1994 record of 13. The guard's 120 total assists lead the league while sitting 24th in Division II. Her average of 4.8 assists also tops the Lone Star Conference and ranks 25th in the NCAA. King shoots 38 percent from the floor and 25 percent from behind the arc. Her 81.7 percent free throw shooting sits fifth in the LSC while her 103 free throws made lead the conference (38th in DII). The Rockdale, Texas, product averages 4.1 rebounds and adds 37 steals, with a career-high of six against Texas Woman's (1/20).

Hannah Reynolds leads Midwestern State in rebounding with 6.8 per game. She's tallied ten rebounds or more in five games this season, including Thursday's battle against UAFS. The senior's 65 total blocks rank second in the LSC and 15th in Division II. She averages 2.71 blocks per game, which leads the league and sits tenth in the NCAA. Reynolds is the school's all-time leading blocker with 220 blocks. The forward beat the program's single game record for blocks, which she previously held at eight against Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 3, 2019. Versus Texas A&M International, Reynolds notched ten blocks to overcome her previous record. She also recently joined MSU's 1,000-point club against LCU and currently holds 1,095 career points. She averages 11 points and led the Mustangs with 21 points against the UAFS. Reynolds tied a career-high 24 points against St. Mary's on Jan. 8.  She shoots 47 percent from the field and 64 percent from the line. The Prosper, Texas, product adds 24 assists and 17 steals. Reynolds notched four points and nine rebounds the last time out against Oklahoma Christian.

Shawnisay Millar is one of three players to start all 25 games for the Mustangs. The junior averages 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. On Thursday, she tallied four points and three rebounds against the Lions. Last time out versus OC, Millar bagged five rebounds and five points. Her best performance of the year was at Eastern New Mexico where she inked 15 points and nine rebounds. On the season, the forward shoots 48 percent from the field and 31 percent from behind the arc. At the line, she is good for 66 percent. The Prestonpans, Scotland, native adds 10 blocks and seven steals.

Markayla Johnson rounds out the starting five for MSU. The sophomore averages 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds. She shoots 38 percent from the floor and 27 percent from behind the arc. The guard knocked down 12-of-24 attempts from the free throw line (50 percent). The team's defensive guru completed a career-high ten points against Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 23. Johnson recorded a career-high seven rebounds against Western New Mexico. She tallied two points and six rebounds versus UAFS. Last time against the Lady Eagles, Johnson tallied three rebounds and one steal in the win. The Huntsville, Texas, native has the team's second-highest 17 blocks and 28 steals on the season.

THE MAN IN CHARGE

Christopher Reay is in his second season at the helm of his alma mater. In the shortened COVID 2020-21 season, Reay guided the Mustangs to an 11-7 record. In his first year at the reins, the Mustangs went 11-5 in Lone Star Conference play. The team finished fifth in the standings and reached the quarterfinals in the postseason tournament. In addition, Reay led MSU 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 28-25 (.528). Reay served as the top assistant for 10 campaigns, guiding MSU to three consecutive NCAA Division II South Central Regionals from 2012-15. In that time, MSU claimed a Lone Star Conference regular and postseason tournament title in 2012-13. Reay competed two seasons at Midwestern State in 2006-07 and 2007-08. After transferring from SMU, he helped MSU to an LSC postseason tournament championship and a regional semifinal appearance in 2007.

SCOUTING THE LADY EAGLES

Oklahoma Christian holds a 2-20 record for the 2022 season and are 2-11 in Lone Star Conference play. This put them at the 15th spot in the league standings. The Lady Eagles' back-to-back wins of the season were against St. Mary's and St. Edward's on Feb. 10 and 12. The team ended an 18-game losing streak with the victories, but have still yet to win a match at home this season. OC is 2-8 when playing on the road.

OC ranks fourth in the LSC with a 73.3 team free-throw percentage. This sits 76thh in the NCAA. The team also ranks fourth with 6.9 three-pointers per game, leading them to a 73rd rank in Division II.

Brooklyn Bain leads the Lady Eagles on multiple fronts. The sophomore is the top scorer (17.1 points/game) and rebounder (10 rebounds/game), ranking second in the LSC in both categories. She collected a career-high 28 points and 18 rebounds against St. Mary's (2/10). Bain has 13 double-doubles on the season to rank second in the Lone Star and 19th in DII. She sits second in the conference with 6.9 average defensive rebounds to rank 33rd in the nation. The guard also ranks fifth in the league with 3.1 offensive boards per game. Bain shoots a Lone Star Conference fifth-best 44 percent from the field and is 20-of-61 from behind the arc. She shoots 75 percent at the line. The Comanche, Okla., product has 36 assists, 31 steals and five blocks in 22 starts. Bain led OC with 18 points and 17 rebounds in their drop against the Mustangs in December.

Kate Bradley has a team-best 88 assists on the season and ranks sixth in the league with four assists per game. The freshman tallied a season-best ten helpers and eight rebounds against Cameron (12/31). She averages 11.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22 starts. Against MSU, Bradley notched 13 points and five rebounds. Her best offensive performance was against Texas Woman's with 19 points. The guard shoots 34 percent from the floor and 69 percent at the free-throw line. She is good for 30 percent from behind the line and averages a LSC sixth-best 1.91 three-pointers. The Bixby, Okla., native has 35 steals and leads the conference with 35.96 minutes per game.

Kendall Blackburn tops Oklahoma Christian with 15 blocks on the season and has five games multi-block games. The junior averages nine points and 6.3 rebounds in her 22 starts. She dropped a career-high 18 points against West Texas A&M and 11 rebounds versus Champion Christian. Blackburn was held to six points and four rebounds in the Dec. 02 match against Midwestern State. The center shoots 43 percent from the field and 28 percent from beyond the arc. She adds an 82 percent conversion at the line. The Edmond, Okla., product has 28 assists and 23 steals on the year.

Kendra Levings is the only other Lady Eagle to start all 22 games on the season. The junior completed four points and three steals against the Mustangs earlier in the year. She averages 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds for Oklahoma Christian. Levings tallied a season-high 12 points against Cameron (12/31) and five rebounds versus Texas A&M-Commerce (02/05). The forward shoots 26 percent from the field and 21 percent from range. At the line, she is good for 85 percent free-throw shooting. The Edmond, Okla., native has 37 assists and steals while adding 11 blocks.

Ashanti Day leads OC with 40 steals in her 15 appearances. The guard puts down 11.8 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 12 starts. She collected a season-best 34 points and six steals against UAFS (01/27). Day shoots 30 percent from the floor and 28 percent from behind the arc. She shoots 76 percent at the line. The freshman transferred from Newman (Kan.) after redshirting in the 2020-21 season. She has 50 assists and three blocks on the year.

ABOUT THE SERIES

In the short, but long-spanning series between Midwestern State and Oklahoma Christian, OC owns a 9-7 advantage over MSU. The two teams first faced-off in 1979 when the Mustangs took the first win over the Eagles. Midwestern State is 6-3 at home against the Lady Eagles, with the last match-up coming in 2020 and ending in a 71-61 victory for MSU. Frances King tallied 23 points and Mica Schneider clinched a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds). That was the first of two LSC wins with the conference record between the two teams tied at 2-2. In the non-conference game earlier this year, MSU bested OC 71-68 with Morgan Lenahan leading all scorers with 28 points.

UP NEXT

Midwestern State kicks off play in the Lone Star Conference Tournament next week starting on Tuesday, March 1. The official schedule will be announced after the conclusion of all conference games on Saturday.