Silver City, N.M – After a battling on the road, the Western New Mexico women's basketball team returns home to take on Midwestern State in a battle of the Mustangs, and Cameron. In Lawton, Western snuck away with a big road win over the Aggies, 67-64. The following Saturday however saw the Mustangs of MSU –Texas take a decisive 46-80 victory on home court. The Aggies will look to take back a road win of their own, while Western pushes to keep their playoff hopes alive with a home court advantage.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Mustangs have hit the road every other week this season, with last weekend being their second to last. The team had the tall task of taking on a ranked West Texas team who suffered their third loss overall at the hands of MSU – Texas the weekend prior. Hot from the start, WT capitalized on the WNMU turnover to take a 19-8 lead through one and never looked back. Western was held to no more than ten points in each quarter, eventually falling 87-37.
 
Saturday continued the long-time rival between East and West. The Lady Mustangs held a one point lead after the first, but the Greyhounds would answer with 19 in the second to take a four point lead at the half. Eastern continued to make a run in the third, holding Western to single digit scoring. Unable to recover, the East prevailed with a 59-44 win.

SCOUTING MIDWESTERN STATE: 
 
Midwestern (8-13, 5-9 LSC) comes to Silver City for their second round of road games, looking to break a two-game losing streak. The Mustangs fell to Tarleton State and Texas A&M – Commerce last weekend, but hold on to a 7^th place conference standing. The top-eight teams go on to the conference tournament.
 
As a team MSU averages 68.8 points per game, holding opponents to 64.6 points. Shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 68 from the free throw line, they sit 7^th in scoring offense. The team looks to Hannah Reynolds who leads the team with 11 points per game (41% FG) while also putting up a wall on the defensive end with a  conference leading 2.4 blocks a game. While Reynolds defense leads the conference, as a team MSU ranks nationally in blocks, averaging 5.2 per game.  
 
Last time these two teams met back in January, Midwestern won in dominant fashion 80-46 in Wichita Falls.
 

HISTORY VERSUS MIDWESTERN STATE:

The battle between Mustangs dates back to 2002, when the teams met in San Antonio for the first time. MSU won 85-58 and continues to lead the all-time series 10-2 with a 5-0 advantage since Western joined the Lone Star Conference. Despite a road slump this season, MSU also leads the series 4-1 while playing on Drag's Court. WNMU's lone win at home dates back to 1996.
 
 
FUELED BY FIELDS:
 
Senior, Ciara Fields (El Paso, TX/El Dorado) sits atop the teams scoring numbers with 10.3 ppg, 22^nd in the LSC. Shooting 31 percent form the floor, 32.6 percent from three-point range and 82.1 percent from the foul line, the El Paso Native will look to keep her streak alive this weekend, having scored in double-digits in the past three games.
 
 
BATTLE FOR THE BOARD:
 
Senior, Tatyanna McFarland (Riverside, California/Valley View High School) rounds out the top three in rebounds with 8.7 on the season, five spots above Reynolds. The Riverside native has 172 so far, with a season high 16 against New Mexico Highlands earlier this season.
 
MSU sits sixth in defensive rebounds with 25.9 a game, but fourth in offensive rebounds with 13.5 As a team their 39.4 average puts them fourth, grabbing 2.4 more boards than their opponents. Western sits 9^th with 34.7 average, 2.5 less than their opponents.  
 


Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Drag's Court. Live stats and video stream will be provided.