Missed opportunities cost MSU Women shot at playoffs
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Missed opportunities cost MSU Women shot at playoffs

  • 24 February 2006
  • 2 min read

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Four consecutive missed free throws and four turnovers in the final 2:24 of Saturday night's contest cost the Midwestern State University Mustangs dearly.

The miscues allowed the Eastern New Mexico Zias to escape

The Zias left town with an 11-17 overall record, including a 3-11 record in the LSC's South Division. They also took the Mustangs shot at a conference postseason berth with them as well.

MSU was bidding to join Texas Woman's and Abilene Christian in a three-way tie for fourth place in the LSC South after the Pioneers upended ACU 72-60 earlier Saturday afternoon in Abilene

Instead, the Mustangs finish in sixth place with a 5-9 division and 11-16 overall.

Texas Woman's will carry the No. 4 seed into the LSC tournament after it won a coin toss with ACU Saturday night.

MSU had an opportunity to close the Zia's margin, which had fluctuated between five and nine points through the second half when Sonya Courtney made her way to the free-throw line with 2:24 remaining in the game.

Courtney converted just one of her two free throws, but the Mustangs maintained possession then the ball bounded off of an ENMU player and out of bounds.

After the teams exchanged turnovers, Angie Faurot missed a 3-pointer before Tiana Bryant missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

Katie Robertson missed both ends of a double bonus, but Stacey Staten hustled for the offensive board and was fouled on her way to the basket. Staten made 1-of-2 shots to close the game to 65-61 with 52 seconds left.

The Mustangs would get no closer as they turned the ball over on consecutive possessions and Rosalyn Elliott canned four-straight charity tosses to give the Zias a 69-61 lead with 25 seconds to go.

Faurot paced the Mustangs with 23 points, while Katherine Maples posted her 11th double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Robertson joined them in double figures with 10 points and dished out six assists.

Bryant and Heather Brown paced ENMU and tied for game-high honors with 27 points each. Elliott finished with 11 points and six assists.

+++ MSU +++

Stockton Court in Ligon Coliseum with a 73-63 victory despite missing front ends of a pair of 1-and-1 opportunities and a big turnover of their own.