THE LEAD

AUSTIN -- Zarria Carter's follow layup beat the buzzer to lift Midwestern State to a 66-64 win over St. Edward's Friday night at the Recreation and Convocation Center.

The win is the first of the Brenita Jackson era and snapped a nine-game slide.

"We've worked for this," Jackson said. "We've prepared for this, and we sacrificed. We believed that we could. To finally get that breakthrough is like getting a monkey off of your back. It feels really good."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Midwestern State peeled off a 12-0 run to extend its lead to 57-42 with 6:23 to play.

But St. Edward's chipped away, then used a 10-0 run to pull with a single point after Jayda Rufus-Milner converted a layup in transition with 38 seconds remaining to trim the MSU advantage to 63-62.

After Catalina Cortez knocked down one of two free throws, SEU tied the game on a pair of free throws by Celise Bobbitt with 12 seconds left.

MSU's Zionna Barbee fired a 3-pointer from the left wing which fell short, but Carter snagged the rebound and beat the buzzer to give the Mustangs their first win of the season.

LEADERS

- Midwestern State junior forward Zarria Carter recorded the fifth 20-point, 20-rebound game in program history and the first since Andrea Carter had 20 points and 20 rebounds against McMurry on November 9, 2012.
- Zarria Carter led the Mustangs with 20 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to go along with four steals.
- With the performance, Carter became the top rebounder in the Lone Star Conference, averaging 10.8 rebounds per game.
- It was Carter's third double-double of the season.
- Carter's 21 rebounds are tied for the third most in program history with Jel-Ani Armstrong, who also had 21 rebounds at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 26, 2004. Just two nights later, Armstrong grabbed 22 rebounds at Texas A&M-Commerce to match Serena Carter's school record of 22 board against Phillips (Okla.) on Nov. 17, 1992.
- Senior forward Kertisa Amos scored in double figures for the seventh time this season finishing with 19 points on the strength of an 11-of-15 effort from the charity stripe. She also snagged six rebounds and made three steals.
- Freshman guard Kyla Speighs buried a pair of 3-pointers and matched a career high with 12 points. She also recorded five steals before fouling out in 29 minutes.
- Senior Makayla Coy scored five points and grabbed eight rebounds before fouling out in 25 minutes. The Mustangs outscored St. Edward's by 19 points with Coy on the floor.
- St. Edward's freshman Janiah Perkins paced the Hilltoppers with 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

GAME NOTES

- It was a game of runs with each team scoring at least 10 consecutive points on two occasions. St. Edward's scored 17-straight points bridging the first and second periods, then went on a 10-0 run late in the fourth. The Mustangs streak to 12 consecutive points in the first period, then again bridging the third and fourth periods.
- Midwestern State limited the Hilltoppers to a season shooting percentage of .295, while forcing SEU into a campaign-most 24 turnovers.
- The Mustangs made a season-high 17 steals including five by Kyla Speights, four by Zarria Carter, and three each by Catalina Cortez and Kertisa Amos.
- Midwestern State claimed its third win in the last four games against St. Edward's to improve to 16-8 all time against Hilltoppers. The win at the Recreation and Convocation Center snapped a two-game slide on the road and it was the Mustangs' first win in Austin since December 19, 2006.
- MSU improved to 1-9 on the season and 1-2 in LSC play, while St. Edward's dropped to 3-5 and 1-2.

UP NEXT

Midwestern State and Cameron renew the Red River Rivalry on Monday, December 18 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
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