WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Angelo State Belle basketball team fought valiantly against the Midwestern State Mustangs, but fell short as Midwestern State defeated the Belles, 62-81.
 
Two free throws from Sawyer Lloyd and a layup from Sadie Misner brought Angelo State to an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter over the Mustangs with 9:09 left on the clock. Misner extended their lead even further, sinking a three to bring the Belles to a 7-2 lead over Midwestern State.
 
The Mustangs retaliated quickly however, sinking several layups to bring themselves within one point of the Belles lead, 7-6. A layup from both Misner and Madeline Stephens, along with a made three pointer from Lloyd brought the Belles back to six point lead over MSU, 14-8. The Mustangs managed to cut their deficit to one point, 16-15, but several layups from Lana Marov and Misner brought ASU to a lead of four over the Mustangs, 22-18.
 
With 46 seconds left in the first quarter, Midwestern State managed to take a one point lead over the Belles leading into the second quarter, 25-24.
 
Midwestern State extended their lead to four over Angelo State on a jump shot and a made three pointer, but a sunken three from Misner cut the Belles deficit back to one point, 30-29. A layup from Aleesha Orange gave Angelo State a one point lead over the Mustangs, 31-30, but a three pointer and layup from Midwestern brought the Mustangs lead to four over Angelo State, 35-31.
 
For the next two minutes, neither team scored a point until two jump shots from Samantha Rocha in the paint tied the game at 35-35 with 3:31 left on the clock in the first half. Midwestern State found their rhythm and make a layup and several three pointers to take a seven point lead over Angelo State, 45-38 with 1:46 left in the half.
 
Midwestern State held onto their rhythm leading into the second half, scoring 15 unanswered points and keeping the Belles from scoring defensively, growing their lead to 22, 60-38. Two free throws from Lloyd and another free throw from Stephens cut the Belles deficit to 19, but a three pointer from the Mustangs brought their lead back to 22, 63-41.
 
Several free throws from Misner, a three pointer from Madisen Honea, and a layup from Rocha brought the Belles deficit to 19, 67-49, with 1:33 left in the third quarter. Midwestern State scored two more free throws to take a lead of 21 over Angelo State, but a made free throw from Misner ended the quarter for the Belles, as Angelo State trailed by 20 leading into the fourth quarter, 69-49.
 
Midwestern State grew their lead to 24 with a layup and two made free throws, but a made three pointer from Lloyd cut it down to 21 with 8:20 left in the second half, 73-52. Angelo State managed to cut their deficit to 18 points throughout the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold onto that momentum as time ran out as Angelo State was defeated by the Midwestern State Mustangs, 81-62, in Wichita Falls.
 
Key Players:

• Misner led the Belles offensively against the Mustangs, scoring 25 points for Angelo State. Shooting 9-12 from the field, 2-4 from beyond the three point line, and 5-8 from the free throw line, Misner also registered one assist, five rebounds, two offensive and three defensive, and one steal to end the night.
• Lloyd followed behind Misner in points, scoring 11 points for the Belles. Lloyd grabbed five rebounds as well, two offensive and three defensive, along with registering three assists and five steals.
• Stephens led the Belles defensively against Midwestern State, grabbing seven boards, three on offense and four on offense. Stephens also grabbed one assist, one block, and one steal to end the night.

 
Up Next:
The Belles travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as Angelo State plays the Oklahoma Christian Eagles in a makeup game on Monday, February 22. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.