MSU Texas women’s basketball team crushed UT Permian Basin in their last home game at the D.Ligon Coliseum this season on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. 61-47.

The mustangs came in strong, dominating in the first half leaving the scoreboard 34-26. To open up the game, in the first minute, Morgan Lenahan (No. 24), criminal justice senior guard, made a tone-setting three-pointer. Diana Jones, assistant women’s basketball coach, said the win was well needed.

“We just lost to Texas A&M Commerce. This win builds up our confidence, especially going into the Lonestar Conference tournament next week. Each game the team goes out and plays as if it is their last, especially with the uncertainty of eligibility due to COVID-19, you never know if you will test positive then have to sit out,” Jones said.

Jones said before the team enters the conference next week, that they will work on their defense and “getting into the zone.”

“In the beginning we didn’t play that well; the defense wasn’t used to their two on two and their zone press to one three one. After a few possessions we got used to it and made a couple buckets but defense needs to do better. Before the conference, we will work on our two on two’s, one on one’s, attacking and seeing where the gaps are so we can make that adjustment for Saturday,” Jones said.

The Mustangs continued to lead in the second half, ending the third quarter 45-39. Lenahan scored the highest individual points for the game, reaching a total of 25.

“I don’t think that was our best game. We were a little slow; the team played completely differently than anyone else we’ve played this season, but now we know what we need to improve on for the next time we play them,” Lenahan said.

Lenahan said she is excited for the Conference and can’t wait to show what the team is capable of.

“I think some people underestimate us, which is good; it’s always nice to be the underdog. In the conference we are going to finish second or third,” Lenahan said.

Sheridan Bostic, (No. 2) criminal justice sophomore guard, said she felt she could do better, but the team performed great.

“The win feels great, it really helps us with the conference. If we win against UTPB on Saturday, we will be third. I want to work on high energy, it was a little sluggish today, [but] I think we are really starting to connect as a team, and we all feel really good right now,” Bostic said.

The next opportunity to watch the MSU women’s basketball team play will be Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Falcon Dome in Odesssa, Texas against UT Permian Basin.