Midwestern State vs. Adams State (Colo.)
Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 | 7 p.m.
Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
2013-14 Records: Midwestern State (18-12); Adams State (9-18)
Video: None
Radio: 95.5 ESPN Wichita Falls
Streaming Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com
 
Midwestern State vs. Emporia State (Kan.)
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 | 7 p.m.
Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
2013-14 Records: Midwestern State (18-12); Emporia State (30-4)
Video: None
Radio: 95.5 ESPN Wichita Falls
Streaming Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com

ON THE COURT
The Midwestern State women open the 2014-15 regular season with the Ashbrook Classic presented by Comfort Inn. The Mustangs host the Adams State Grizzlies on Friday night, and nationally ranked Emporia State Hornets on Saturday.
 
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES
- Adams State begins the season under a new head coach, Larry Joe Hunt, after the departure of former coach Rebecca Alvidrez.
- The Grizzlies return two veteran seniors in Desiree Anderson (Guard, 5-8, Colorado Northwestern CC) and Mariah Gonzales (Guard, 5-5, Rio Rancho, N.M.). Gonzales led ASU with 11 p.p.g. last season.
- ASU welcomes transfer Brittney Whiteman (Guard, 5-8) from Colorado Northwestern Community College. Whiteman averaged 14.9 p.p.g. over a two year span and was named to the SWAC 2nd Team All Conference.
- Adams State opened the 2014-15 season on Nov. 6 with an 84-68 loss to Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Adams State has won the only other matchup between the two schools – a 64-56 victory in the 2013 Ashbrook Classic at Ligon Coliseum on November 9, 2013.

 ABOUT THE LADY HORNETS
- Emporia State opens the 2014-15 season as pre-season favorites to win the MIAA conference according to the MIAA Coaches Poll. The Lady Hornets were also picked #14 in the women's D-II Bulletin Preseason Poll.
- The defending MIAA tournament champs return two starters- Merissa Quick (Two-time MIAA Most Outstanding Player) and Kelly Moten (All-MIAA Tournament performer). Quick averaged 12.8 p.p.g. and 7.4 rebounds while Moten posted 7.7 p.p.g. and 4.4 boards.
- The Lady Hornets were 30-4 last year and won their second straight MIAA Tournament Championship in their fourth straight trip to the title game. Emporia State has gone to the regional championship in each of the last three seasons.
- Emporia State is 1-1 on the season. They lost to Kansas State 54-50, and defeated Evangel University (Mo.) 73-47.

ABOUT THE SERIES
- Emporia State leads the series 2-0 over the Mustangs. The Lady Hornets defeated MSU 77-55 on November 23, 2013 in Emporia, Kansas. Before that, the only other meeting was an 80-73 ESU victory in the 2005-06 season.

LAST TIME OUT
- The Mustangs took a 99-56 loss to the Baylor Bears on November 4 in Waco, Texas. Baylor post Khadijah Cave poured in a game-high 26 points for the Bears. Dianna Jones led MSU with 17 points, 11 coming at the free throw line.

MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State returns four starters and eight letter winners off of last season NCAA Division II South Central Regional qualifier.
- Senior forward Andrea Carter (Angleton, Texas / Angleton HS) earned Division II Bulletin Preseason All America honors and is the reigning Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- Carter averaged 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game to garner Daktronics All-South Central Region accolades in 2013-14. The two-time All-LSC first-team selection heads into her senior campaign fifth on MSU's all-time rebounding chart with 759 and is 13th in career scoring with 1,084 points.
- Dianna Jones (Hewitt, Texas / Midway HS) and Shatoia Gober (Waco, Texas / Midway HS), both returning starters at the guard position, enjoy a homecoming Tuesday night as both attended Hewitt Midway High School near Waco.
- Jones enters her senior season 10th on MSU's all-time assists list with 257.
- Senior Taylor Dowd (Valley View, Texas / Valley View HS), another returning starter, has upped her scoring average each season. The 6-4 forward scored 6.3 points per game as a junior.
- Seniors Janae McJunkins (Wagoner, Okla. / Wagoner HS (Murray State)) (3.3 ppg), Lisa Hampton (Kennedale, Texas / Nolan Catholic HS) (6.6 ppg, 42.2 3pct) and Shambreka Jones (Mesquite, Texas / Poteet HS (Charleston Southern)) (2.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) join junior Katie Brown (El Campo, Texas / Louise HS) (0.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg) to give the Mustangs eight returning letter winners.
- Sophomores Jennifer Sissel (Wichita Falls, Texas / Rider HS) and Hannah Selzer (Keller, Texas / Timber Creek HS) return after serving medical redshirts in 2013-14.
- Junior guard Kathryn Odom (Allen, Texas / Lovejoy HS (Southern Arkansas)) and sophomore forward Destiny Means (Duncanville, Texas / Duncanville HS (UTSA)) transfer in to bolster the MSU roster joining freshmen signees Skye Catletti (Wichita Falls, Texas / Rider HS), Montoria Tripp (Frisco, Texas / Heritage HS), Krishawn Crockett (Humble, Texas / Summer Creek HS), Anni Scholl (Henrietta, Texas / Henrietta HS) and Whitney Taylor (Melissa, Texas / Melissa HS).
- It's the fourth consecutive season the Mustangs open exhibition play against a Division I opponent. MSU defeated UTA (67-56) in 2011-12 before losing to Texas Tech (77-62) and Texas (119-75) in each of the past two seasons.
 
THE JOHNSON ERA
- Noel Johnson is in her seventh season at the helm of the Midwestern State basketball program.
- Johnson boasts a 90-77 record (.539) while leading the Mustangs to the NCAA Division II postseason in each of the last two seasons including a trip to the South Central Region finals in 2013.
- Midwestern claimed its first NCAA wins taking down Tarleton State and Metro State (Colo.) in 2013 before falling to No. 4 Colorado Mesa in the regional final.
- Johnson led the Mustangs to its first Lone Star Conference championship in 12 seasons claiming the 2012-13 title.
- Johnson garnered Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012 before earning Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Small College Coach of the Year accolades in 2013.
 
UP NEXT
The Mustangs host the Texas Wesleyan Lady Rams on November 18 at Ligon Coliseum. Listen to the radio play-by-play on 95.5 ESPN Radio. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.