ODESSA, Texas -- Midwestern State needed a pair of steals on the final possession, but found a way to close out a game on the road Saturday afternoon at the Falcon Dome.

Then freshman Carisa Cortez knocked down a pair of free throws to put the seal on a 62-57 win over UT Permian Basin.

The victory snapped a nine-game road losing streak, which dating back to a 75-73 win at Angelo State on February 17, 2024 as the Mustangs improved to 7-10 on the season and moved to 5-6 in Lone Star Conference play.

The Mustangs have won five of their last eight games, but finally broke through a win away from D.L. Ligon Coliseum after starting the spring semester with a pair of losses on buzzer beaters at West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico.

MSU used a strond defensive effort to jump out to a big lead in the opening period, holding the UT Permian Basin to 2-of-19 shooting including 10 misses from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Emillia Steele scored six of her 14 points in the first period as the Mustangs pushed out to a 20-8 lead three minutes into the second period.

Midwestern State never trailed in the game and managed to match its largest lead early in the fourth period when Zarria Carter hit a pair of free throws to give the Mustangs a 52-40 advantage.

But the Falcons fired in five 3-pointers in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the game, including three by junior Makala Bingley and pulled to within three points when Morgan Helgesen banged in a triple to trim the MSU lead to 60-57 with 1:10 to play.

The Mustangs misfired on a pair of free throws on the next possession, but were credited with steals by Carter and Carisa Cortez in the closing seconds before Cortez put the game away at the free throw line.

Carter completed her fourth consecutive and 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Steele went 5-of-6 from the field and closed the game with 14 points and five rebounds.

Hutterer connected on 3-of-6 from the 3-point arc to finish in double figures for the second time in her last three games with 11 points, while Carisa Cortez chipped in an all-around line with 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Freshman Kerbie Cash struggled to a 1-of-11 shooting game, but proved more than helpful grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out a season-high eight assists.

Bingley connected on five 3-pointers on her way to a team-high 16 points for the Falcons.

UT Permian Basin dropped its third consecutive game -- all at home -- to fall to 9-8 overall and to 7-4 in league play.

Midwestern State takes on Cameron Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
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