STEPHENVILLE - The Tarleton-Midwestern State rivalry has reached a new height as the Lone Star Conference foes will take their battle to national stage for a first round matchup in the NCAA regional tournament Friday afternoon at Brownson Arena in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (3:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.)

In the fourth meeting of the season between Tarleton and Midwestern State, the TexAnns are still in search of their first win. MSU won the first meeting in overtime at Wichita Falls - the same night Tarleton lost Shanae Lowrance and Karli Moore to injuries - and won the next two games at Wisdom Gym and most recently in the LSC Tournament semifinals at Allen.

Tarleton trails the all-time series against Midwestern State 24-31 dating back to the first meeting in 1980. Tarleton is 1-3 all-time against the Mustangs on neutral territory and 14-5 under head coach Ronnie Hearne.

AT A GLANCE

Records: Tarleton TexAnns 19-9 (14-6 LSC), Midwestern State 24-5 (16-4 LSC)

Video: A live video broadcast of the game can be seen at AmericaOneSports.com or through the link on the women's basketball schedule at TarletonSports.com.

Radio: KSTV 93.1 FM The Mighty 93 in Stephenville has the call for the TexAnns with Mike Young (play-by-play) on air. The pre-game show will begin 15 minutes prior to game time and a post-game interview will be available. An online link to the audio feed can be found at TarletonSports.com.

POSTSEASON AWARDS

For the first time in school history, Tarleton has the LSC Women's Player of the Year - junior center Kiara Wright.

Wright averaged a double-double for the TexAnns and was named the conference Player of the Year Tuesday night. She also earned the Co-Defensive Player of the Year award and first-team all-conference while Peyton Adamson was named second-team all-conference and academic all-conference.

LAST TIME OUT

Tarleton bowed out of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament Friday night with semifinal loss to Midwestern State, 100-83. The TexAnns defeat came despite the second straight 30-point effort from junior Kiara Wright.

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT HISTORY

This marks the fifth time in school history the TexAnns have qualified for the NCAA tournament, including each of the last four seasons. Tarleton's first tournament berth came in 2006 before returning in 2010. Tarleton lost its first two NCAA games - both to Emporia State - before finally advancing to the second round in 2011 with a win over Southeastern Oklahoma. All four regional appearances have come under the instruction of head coach Ronnie Hearne. They are 1-4 in NCAA regional games.

FOURTH TIME'S A CHARM

Since 1980, this marks the sixth time Tarleton will play the same opponent four times in one season. The last time - and the only time they have lost all four to one team - came in 1986-87 against Sul Ross State. The TexAnns and Mustangs played four times in the 1983-84 season with Tarleton winning three of the four.

TEXANNS IN BACK-TO-BACKS

Tarleton has played the same opponent in back-to-back games 15 times since 1980 and four times under head coach Ronnie Hearne. The TexAnns and Mustangs have met in back-to-back contests four times over that stretch and Tarleton's record against MSU in back-to-backs is 5-3.

ALL-TOURNAMENT, AGAIN

Despite missing out on the championship, Tarleton center Kiara Wright was named to the LSC All-Tournament team for the second year in a row after averaging 30 points and 15.5 rebounds in Tarleton's two games.

FIGHTIN' THROUGH THE FOUL TROUBLE

In addition to losing two key players in the first meeting to season-ending injuries, junior starter has also seen very limited action in Tarleton's three meetings against MSU - committing 14 fouls in the three games - and fouling out of two.

30-POINT PERFORMANCES

With back-to-back 30-point games, Kiara Wright now has the second most 30-point performances in Tarleton's 18-year NCAA history behind Tarleton Hall of Famer, Rachelle Bowen. Her first came with a career-high 34 points on Jan. 23 against Texas Woman's for the first 30-point game at Tarleton since Shea Kester scored 36 against National Christian, Dec. 13, 2001. She has since added two more to her resume at the LSC Tournament.

Peyton Adamson also had a 30-point game against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 13. They join Saresa Butler (30), Jana Skelton (34, 34), Misty Wilson (33, 33), Kester (36) and Tarleton Hall of Famer Rachelle Bowen (30, 49, 30, 32) to crack the 30-point plateau.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES AT A PREMIUM

Kiara Wright has recorded a double-double in 13 straight games following her 30-point, 11-re- bound effort against MSU. The last time she failed to record one was Jan. 19 against West Texas A&M.

She also has 36 career double-doubles, 23 this season - which leads the nation - and at least one career double-double against every member of the Lone Star Conference.

LSC CHAMPIONS IN THE REGIONAL

Since 2000, the Lone Star Conference tournament champions have lost in the first round eight of the last 12 years. Of the other four, two have lost in the second round while only two have advanced to the Elite Eight. Midwestern State won the LSC Championship in overtime Saturday night.

LOOKING AHEAD FOR TARLETON

It's win or go home for every team still playing across the nation. Live broadcasts will be available on LoneStarConference.org and the radio feed can be heard on KSTV 93.1 FM in Stephenville or on the Listen Live link at TarletonSports.com.