Leading by a point with the final seconds winding down, Tarleton State drew an offensive foul that wiped out a go-ahead bucket from MSU with 4.1 seconds to play.
The TexAnns were able to stave off one last desperate 3-point attempt by the Mustangs, and escape Friday’s quarterfinal game at Comerica Center with a 62-61 victory in the LSC Championship.
Tarleton State, the No. 3 seed, improved to 21-7 and will face the winner of Angelo State and Texas Woman’s in Saturday night’s semifinal round.
The TexAnns, currently ranked fifth in the South Central Region, should have a spot secured in next week’s regional tournament. Although, two more wins would give TSU an automatic berth in the tourney.
For a while, it appeared TSU would cruise into the semis, leading by eight at the half.
But the Mustangs outscored Tarleton 21-12 in the third quarter, taking a lead into the fourth, which was a back-and-forth affair that saw seven lead changes.
A big turning point in the game occurred with four minutes to play and the scored tied at 55. MSU couldn’t corral a defensive rebound, allowing the TexAnns an extra possession. Seconds later, McKinley Bostad buried a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 58-55 lead. After an MSU layup, Bostad came right back on the ensuing possession and drained a 3-pointer from the left wing for a four-point lead.
The Mustangs never folded, and trimmed the lead to one two more times. With a minute to play, Kityana Diaz missed her second free throw attempt that would’ve tied the score.
Still, MSU was able to force a jump ball and alternative possession, setting up the final sequence. Chelcie Kizart, who had a team-high 19 points, drove the lane and seemed to make the go-ahead score. But TSU freshman Kandyn Faurie was able to get position and take a charge, negating the Mustangs’ basket.
After two missed free throws for Tarleton, MSU couldn’t get a good look to win the game as the buzzer sounded.
The season ends for the Mustangs (12-16), who also got 14 points and six rebounds from Hannah Reynolds.
Bostad led the way for the TexAnns with 22 points and three steals. Mackenzie Hailey had 15 points, seven boards and four steals. Katie Webster recorded six points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Tarleton State Notes:
- The TexAnns are now 15-14 all-time in LSC Championship games.
- The victory moves them closer to winning the program’s third tournament title since 2012. TSU cut down the nets in Allen, Texas in 2017 and was the runner-up last year to West Texas A&M in Frisco.
- TSU entered the game first in the LSC in steals, averaging 11.3 per contest. The TexAnns were able to get nine steals among MSU’s 17 turnovers.
- TSU outscored MSU in the paint 44-30.
- Bostad’s 22 points marked the fourth time she went over the 20-point total. Two of the four games have occurred against MSU.
- Hailey’s 15 points gave her double-figure scoring for the 10th consecutive game.
Midwestern State Notes:
- The Mustangs drop to 13-9 all-time in LSC Championship games.
- The Mustangs have not won an LSC Championship game since the 2015 tournament, when they won two games and lost to West Texas A&M in the finals.
- MSU entered the game first in the LSC in blocks, averaging 5.1 per game. But the Mustangs had just two blocks, including one from Hannah Reynolds (2.4 bpg), the LSC’s leader.
- With just eight points, Liz Cathcart saw a streak of seven straight games in double figures come to an end.
- Kizart tied her season-high with 19 points, matching her total against Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 2.