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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 1/18/07
TWU COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST MSU 62-61
 WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Jan. 18) – Despite an inspired second half rally, the Texas Woman's University Pioneers suffered a 62-61 loss to the Midwestern State University Mustangs in a Thursday night Lone Star Conference South Division game at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Playing sound basketball on both ends of the court in the opening half, TWU took a 27-26 lead into the locker room at halftime. However, the Pioneers came out flat to start the final twenty minutes of play. MSU outscored TWU 21-8 in the first 9:42 of the second half to surge in front by a 47-35 margin.
Seeing the game slip away, the Pioneers responded. Eight points from sophomore guard Maggy Deweber (pictured), including two three-point baskets, propelled TWU on a 21-7 run of their own over the next six minutes to help the Pioneers jump back in front 56-54 with under three minutes to play in regulation.
MSU slowed the TWU momentum with a fast break layup from senior guard Sonya Courtney to tie the game at 56. Then, Mustangs reserve forward Brittni Burks stepped up for the home team. First, the junior from Archer City, Texas drained a jump shot with 1:32 on the clock to put MSU on top 58-56. After a driving layup by TWU's Jessica Durr tied the game at 58, Burks nailed a three-point basket with just 42 seconds to play to give the Mustangs a 61-58 advantage. TWU turned the ball over on their next possesion and Burks was fouled to stop the clock. She stepped to the free throw line with 24 seconds left in regulation and hit one of two fouls shots to extend the Mustangs lead to 62-58. A three-point basket by Margaret Wimbish with seven seconds showing on the clock pulled the Pioneers to within one, 62-61. TWU would try to get the ball back for a final shot, but, after a free throw miss by Midwestern's Kaylon Hodge, time expired, ending the TWU come back bid and sending the Pioneers to their first LSC South Division loss of the season.
"I don't want to take anything away from Midwestern," said Pioneers head coach Rene Hanebutt, "but I feel like we could have, maybe should have, won this basketball game. This was another game where we only played well in spurts. We'd coast for a little while, and then decide to play. I was proud of the way we fought to get back into this one, but, we really need to make a concerted effort to play for a full forty minutes if we want to win."
Hanebutt was complimentary of Deweber's effort in the loss. The sharpshooter from Alvord, Texas, who led TWU in scoring with 15 points, had one of her best games of the season.
"Maggy competed hard for us tonight. She played well, and was a big reason that we had a chance to win in the end," Hanebutt explained.
With 21 points, Courtney was the high scorer in the game for MSU. Freshman forward Andrea Buben added 16 points to the Mustangs cause, and Burks efforts in the final moments of the game helped her finish with 13 points. Wimbish had a strong game for TWU, as she scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Durr and junior guard Brandi Couch totaled 8 points apiece for TWU.
With the win, MSU improves to 8-7 on the year, 2-1 in LSC South play. TWU falls to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in LSC South contests.
The Pioneers will hit the hardwood again this Saturday, January 20, when they host the Tarleton State TexAnns at 7:00 p.m. at Kitty Magee Arena in Pioneer Hall.
For additional information, please contact the TWU Sports Information office at (940) 898-2373.
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