MSU Women beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 70-66

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Katherine Maples put another stamp on the Midwestern State University season Thursday night at Stockton Court in Ligon Coliseum.

The 6-1 senior center keyed a 16-4 run to close out the first half and finished with a á career-best 32 points to lead the Mustangs to a 70-66 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville in Lone Star Conference South Division play.

Maples' 32 points is the third highest output in coach Shannon Burks' seven-year tenure. Lindy Lombard netted 35 points against Eastern New Mexico in 2001 and Katrina Jordan had 33 against Texas A&M-Commerce in the year 2000.

Maples scored eight points in the last eight minutes of the opening stanza as the Mustangs answered an 8-2 A&M- Kingsville run that gave the Javalinas their biggest lead of the night at 24-18.

The Mustangs shook off another Javalina push at the beginning of the second half as Texas A&M-Kingsville surged for an 8-2 run to the game on an Aasia Bett's jumper at the 16:10-mark of the second half.

It was the 11th occasion the game was tied - and it would be the last.

Maples hit consecutive traditional three-point plays to give the Mustangs a 44-38 lead and her layup off of Kelly Cleavinger's feed with 6:16 remaining gave Midwestern State its largest lead of the night at 58-50.

The Javalinas closed to within two twice in the final four minutes of the contest, but Cleavinger and Tia Banks answered to extend the MSU advantage.

Maples also grabbed 12 rebounds to finish with her seventh double-double of the season.

Angie Faurot added 12 points, while Cleavinger and Katie Robertson had six assists each.

Betts finished with 22 points for Texas A&M-Kingsville, while Angela Trotter had 20 points and 11 boards.

The win improves the MSU to 7-9 on the season and 1-2 in LSC South play, while the Javalinas fall to 4-12 and 0-3.

The Mustangs play host to Texas Woman's University on Saturday night on

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