After scoring a season-high points in Thursday’s quarterfinal game, Midwestern State surpassed that in a major way in the semifinals, recording the first 100-point game of the season.

The scoring outburst by the Mustangs assured there will be a new champion on the women’s side of the LSC Championships in Allen. MSU made sure of that with an impressive offensive showing Saturday night, disposing of defending champion Tarleton State, 100-83 at the Allen Event Center.

The No. 1 Mustangs move into Saturday night’s tournament final against West Texas A&M, the third-seed. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MSU coach Noel Johnson and WT coach Kristi Gerlich were college teammates with Sheryl Swoopes on the 1993 Texas Tech team that won the national championship.

It’s the first trip for MSU to the LSC Championship final game since 2002. The Mustangs haven’t won this tournament since 2001.

• 2013 LSC Basketball Championship Central (links for video, stats, recaps, photos and press conferences)

On Thursday night, MSU scored a season-high 85 points against Eastern New Mexico. But the Mustangs were even hotter on Friday, shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and 36 of 42 free-throw attempts.

Five players finished in double-figure scoring, led by Kristi Degelia, who had 22 points. Skyler Warrick came off the bench to add 20 points and nine rebounds. Andrea Carter had 18 points, while Lisa Hampton had 12 and Shambreka Jones scored nine. 

Tarleton State’s Kiara Wright scored 30 points for the second straight night. Wright followed up a 30 point, 20-rebound game Thursday night with another impressive outing. The nation’s leading rebounder, Wright pulled down 11 on Friday. Other top scorers for the TexAnns were Peyton Adamson (15), Brianna Bledsoe (11) and Cheyenne Berry (10).

The Mustangs led 45-39 at the half and just gradually pulled away in the second half, thanks to stellar free-throw shooting. MSU also had a huge rebounding advantage, winning the battle of the boards 42-26. Six different players had at least five rebounds for the Mustangs.
 


 
Midwestern State notes

• MSU swept the season series from Tarleton snapping a streak of 14 consecutive losses to the TexAnns.
• Skyler Warrick scored a career high 20 points and was one of five players to score in double figures.
• MSU is now 9-4 in LSC Tournament games and advance to their first LSC title game since 2002.  Their only tournament championship came in 2001 when they defeated Southeastern Oklahoma, 66-61.
• The win almost certainly puts the Mustangs into the NCAA Regional Tournament after entering the conference tourney ranked #2 in the region.
• The win gives the team 23 on the season, tied for the second most in school history.
• The Mustangs have put together their two highest scoring games of the season in the LSC Tournament, 85 points against Eastern New Mexico and 100 against Tarleton.  It was the most points Tarleton has given up all year and the most points MSU has ever scored in an LSC Tournament game.

 
Tarleton State Notes

• The TexAnns fell to 6-10 all-time in LSC tournament games and falls for first time on the court at the Allen Event Center, after winning the LSC title in 2012.
• Kiara Wright had 30 points for the second straight game, giving her three 30-point efforts in her career, which is second-most in Tarleton NCAA history. 
• Wright’s 30 points in each game match the 18^th best top single game scoring performances in championship history.
• Wright posted her 23^rd double-double, which is the best in NCAA Division II this year.
• It was the third loss to Midwestern State this season for Tarleton, marking the first time since 1992-93 season with three losses to same team (Wayland Baptist).