WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The #19 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M led by double-digits in the second half but the Midwestern State Mustangs battled back for a thrilling 87-80 double overtime victory in Lone Star Conference divisional action at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
 
Hightower finished the game going 9-of-14 from the floor including 2-of-5 from behind the arc and 6-of-9 from the free throw line for a game-high 26 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Nix went 5-of-14 from the field including 2-of-9 from long range for a season-high 13 points followed by Spurgin and Taylor both with 10 points.
 
The Lady Buffs went 29-of-57 (50.9%) from the floor including 7-of-19 (36.8%) from behind the arc and 15-of-25 (60%) from the free throw line to go along with 31 total rebounds (seven offensive, 24 defensive), 16 assists, 26 turnovers eight blocks and 12 steals.
 
MSU was led offensively by Moran Lenahan as the senior went 6-of-16 from the floor including 3-of-6 from deep and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe for a team-high 25 points to go along with five assists and a steal. The Mustangs finished the game going 30-of-69 (43.5%) from the field including 5-of-17 (29.4%) from behind the arc and 22-of-28 (78.6%) from the free throw line to go along with 43 rebounds (18 offensive, 25 defensive), 17 assists, 21 turnovers, three blocks and 10 steals.
 
The Lady Buffs came out firing as they used long balls by Lexy Hightower and Delaney Nix to start the game on an 8-0 run, Midwestern State responded with eight of the next 11 points to cut the WT lead to 11-8 headed into the first media timeout of the afternoon. Hightower hit two at the charity stripe followed by buckets from Lauren Taylor and Madison Kast to stretch the lead to 17-10 before MSU went on a run of their own, Jillian Sowell switched the momentum right before the end of the first with a long ball to give WT the 20-19 lead.
 
Both teams went on a scoring drought in the middle of the second as WT held a 22-21 lead heading into a media timeout with 4:18 left in the half. Both teams traded buckets after the break before a long ball by the Mustangs to give them the 26-24 lead headed into a WT timeout with 43 seconds left. Kast connected on a long ball to spark an 8-0 run by the Lady Buffs as they took a 32-26 lead into the locker room.
 
The Lady Buffs stretched their lead to double-digits with a Hightower three-point play before buckets on both ends of the court sent the teams into a media timeout with 3:58 left in the third and WT leading 45-37. The Mustangs went on an 8-1 run after the break to cut the lead to one, the Lady Buffs would stretch the lead to 52-48 headed to the final period.
 
MSU took a two-point lead into the final media timeout of the afternoon followed by buckets on both ends of the floor before a Hightower long ball and a Delaney Nix steal-and-score gave WT the 66-62 lead, the teams traded buckets before a big offensive rebound and layup by the Mustangs to tie the game at 66-66 with 55 seconds left. WT forced a shot-clock violation as they took possession with just under 10 seconds remaining but a buzzer beater attempt wouldn't fall for the Lady Buffs, sending the game into overtime at 66-66.
 
Both teams traded buckets to start the overtime period as an Abby Spurgin layup cut the MSU lead to 72-70 with just under two minutes left, WT made a big defensive stop which led to another Spurgin bucket to tie the game at 72-72 with 1:36 left. Both teams went cold from the floor as another WT shot at the buzzer wouldn't fall, sending the teams to the second OT tied at 72.
 
Lauren Taylor scored the first three points of the second overtime period for the Lady Buffs followed by an MSU bucket to give the Mustangs a 76-75 lead, the teams traded free throws followed by a Hightower layup to make it 78-77 with 2:27 left. MSU connected on a give-and-go following a timeout with under a minute left to take a 81-78 lead with 39.4 seconds left, Spurgin connected on a jumper to cut the lead to 81-80 with 29.2 left.
 
Midwestern State hit a pair at the charity stripe after the timeout to make it 83-80 followed by a Mustang foul but WT missed both of their free throw attempts with 17.4 seconds left, MSU would hit one-of-two at the line but a big offensive board led to another WT foul and more free throws by the Mustangs for the 87-80 win. 
 
The Lady Buffs finally open up their 2020-21 home scheduled on Monday afternoon as MSU makes the trip to Canyon for LSC divisional action with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m. at the First United Bank Center.
 
Lady Buff Basketball Postgame Notes
Midwestern State 87, West Texas A&M 80 (2OT)
January 2, 2021
D.L. Ligon Coliseum (Wichita Falls, Texas)

• WT moved to 52-16 all-time against the Mustangs including a 20-10 record in Wichita Falls.
• Saturday afternoon marked the first overtime contest for the Lady Buffs since a 52-49 loss to Tarleton on February 13, 2020. WT's last overtime victory came on February 26, 2019 against Eastern New Mexico (67-60) at the FUBC.
• The last time the Lady Buffs played in a multiple-overtime contest was a 112-111 (3OT) loss to Angelo State on February 3, 2016.
• Hightower registered her second consecutive contest with atleast 20 points on Saturday afternoon, the last time the Amarillo native had back-to-back games with 20+ was February 14-21, 2019 (3 straight games).
• Saturday marked the 36^th time in Hightower's career that the senior has led WT in scoring, it was also her 20^th career game with atleast 20 points.