December 15, 2012

LIONS TRAVEL TO ARKADELPHIA TO FACE OUACHITA AND HENDERSON

Kourtey Briscoe against Angelo State on Dec. 8

Final	1	2	T
A&M-Commerce (3-5)	33	39	72
Henderson State (6-2)	46	29	75
Arkadelphia, AR (Duke Wells Center)

A&M-Commerce	Henderson State
Pts: La'Tisha Hearne - 18	Pts: BEACHUM, Krystal - 33
Reb: Breanna Harris - 9	Reb: SMITH, Destiny - 10
Ast: La'Tisha Hearne - 2	Ast: 2 Players (#21, #03 - 2)

Team Statistics	A&M-Commerce	Henderson State
Field Goal %	47.6% (30-63 )	57.4% (27-47 )
Rebounds	32	30
Assists	5	6
Turnovers	17	17
Pts off Turnovers	18	27
2nd Chance Pts	9	7
Pts in the Paint	46	46
Fastbreak Pts	4	4
Bench Pts	18	16

full stats

Final	1	2	T
A&M-Commerce (3-4)	33	23	56
Ouachita Baptist (7-1)	30	41	71
Arkadelphia, AR (Bill Vining Arena)

A&M-Commerce	Ouachita Baptist
Pts: Breanna Harris - 13	Pts: JAMES, Nashia - 21
Reb: La'Tisha Hearne - 8	Reb: WILLIAMS, Monica - 9
Ast: Sarah Duran - 3	Ast: JAMES, Nashia - 4

Team Statistics	A&M-Commerce	Ouachita Baptist
Field Goal %	28.3% (17-60 )	49.0% (24-49 )
Rebounds	36	41
Assists	8	17
Turnovers	19	19
Pts off Turnovers	17	19
2nd Chance Pts	15	13
Pts in the Paint	16	34
Fastbreak Pts	0	8
Bench Pts	23	13

full stats

A&M-Commerce at Ouachita Baptist
Saturday, December 15 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Records: A&M-Commerce (3-3, 1-2 LSC); Ouachita Baptist (6-1 4-0 Great American)
Live Stats: obutigers.com

A&M-Commerce at Henderson State
Tuesday, December 18 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Records: A&M-Commerce (3-3, 1-2); Henderson State (5-2, 3-1 GAC)
Live Stats: hsusports.com

Opening Tip: A&M-Commerce travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for two nonconference games this coming week. This is the fastest that A&M-Commerce has gotten three wins in a season since starting the 2008-09 season 4-2 in their first six games. The Lions will also try to halt their three game losing streak after starting the season 3-0. Ouachita Baptist's only blemish so far this season is a loss to Texas Woman's, 60-59, who A&M-Commerce beat by nine on November 28.

Series Score: A&M-Commerce will be looking for its first win against the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist ever. Currently the Lions are 0-8 against OBU and have lost last three meetings by exactly 22 each time; 85-63 in 2002-03, 83-61 in 2010-11 and 89-67 in 2011-12. The Lions have fared better against the Lady Reddies of Henderson State, holing a 2-5 record all time. Prior to last season the Lions had not faced the Lasy Reddies since the 2004-05 season when they beat Henderson State, 66-65.

Scouting the Tigers
2012-13: 6-1, 4-0 Great American Conference, 2-1 at home
2011-12: 18-10, 10-6 3rd GAC, 9-2 at home

Head Coach: Garry Crowder - 17th Season (Career Record 235-177)

Key Players
• #13 Monica Williams: 17.7 ppg / 9.4 rpg / 1.1 bpg / 42% FG
• #15 Nashia James: 13.6 ppg / 5.1 rpg / 2.4 apg / 1.9spg
• #24 Kendra Coyle: 12.0 ppg / 3.7 rpg / 2.3 apg / 1.2 spg

The Tigers have been rolling of late winning six streak since a season opening loss to Texas Woman's. OBU has also started conference play off with four straight wins. Ouachita is paced by Monica Williams who third in the Great American Conference in scoring and second in rebounding so far this season. Nashia James and Kendra Coyle also place in the top fifteen in scoring amoung GAC players this season. The Tigers also boast the number two scoring offense in the GAC averaging 73 points per game second only to Southwester Oklahoma State, 78 ppg. To go only with the good offense Ouachita Baptist ranks third in the GAC in scoring defense; giving up only 61 per game.

Scouting the Lady Reddies:
2012-13: 5-2, 3-1 GAC, 2-1 home
2011-12: 14-13, 7-9 GAC fifth, 10-3 away.

Head Coach: Kaci Bailey - Interim

Key Players:
• #14 - Destiny Smith: 14.0 ppg / 11.1 ppg / 2.0 spg / 2.1 apg / 61% FG
• #21 - Krystal Beachum: 12.3 ppg / 3.4 rpg / 2.0 spg / 42% FG
• #1 - Shareka Maner: 10.7 ppg / 8.9 rpg / 67% FT / 34% FG

The Lady Reddies have started off the season well for interim coach Kali Bailey. Destiny Smith currently ranks seven in the GAC in scoring and number one in rebounding. Shareka Maner is not to be outdone on the boards. She ranks third in the GAC in rebounding averaging just under nine per game so far this season. Krystal Beacum has been a menace on defensive end so far this season. She currently ranks tied for second in steals with two per game in the GAC. Sheay Longstaff provides the long range scoring with 15 three so far this season and hits just over two per game, good enough for fourth among GAC players this season.

Harris among LSC leaders: A&M-Commerce junior forward currently ranks fifth in the conference in rebounding with 10.7 rebounds per game.

Carving out her niche: Amber Carver had been on a roll recently with double-doubles in two of her last three games and scoring double figures in all three. The transfer from Oral Roberts has adjusted nicely and is second on the team in scoring and rebounding and first in block shots per game. Carver is second in the LSC in blocks with 2.1 per game and five in her last two games. In conference play Carver has been dependable averaging a double-double with 10.7 ppg and 11.7 rpg.

Master Thieves: Currently there are three Lions averaging over 1.5 steals per game. Danielle Dixon, 2.3, Kourtney Briscoe, 1.8, and Aubree Butts with 1.5. All three are currently in the top 12 of the LSC.

Briscoe's increased role: After being a role player for the 2011-12 season, Kourtney Brisoce has emerged as a key part of the Lions this season. Currently the junior guard is averaging 6.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Brisoce has not turned the ball a lot so far this season sporting a 1.26 assist to turnover ratio.

Butts turning heads: Aubree Butts has proven to be a quality contributor in her freshmen season for the Lions. Butts is currently third on the team in scoring with 9.6 per game, third rebound averaging 4 a game leads the team in minutes per game with 28.0.

Shooting Blanks: During the three game losing streak the Lion offense has struggled to get into a rhythm averaging only 55.6 points per game. The Lions averaged 70.6 points per game during their three game winning streak to start the season.

Bibbs coming on recently: Shanekqua Bibbs has seen her production improve during the last three games averaging 9.5 points per game and making 1.6 three per contest. She has been even more impressive during conference play averaging 13 per game.

Head Coach Nicole Anderson: Anderson enters her fourth season at the helm of the A&M-Commerce Lions women's basketball program. Her team will look to improve from the 2-24 season they suffered each of the last two seasons and move up the conference standings in 2012-13. She has compiled an 8-70 record over her three seasons as head coach. Anderson will look to the new comers to help out in production to go along with Breanna Harris and Danielle Dixon.

Who is Next: The Lions will enjoy a break in the schedule over the holidays and come back to court in 2013 with a home game against Lone Star Conference foe Incarnate Word on January 2. Tip-off is set for 5:30p.m. followed by the men at The Field House. It will Incarnate Word's last time traveling to field house as a LSC member as they move to the Southland Conference next season. On January 5th the Lions will travel to A&M-Kingsville. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Kingsville on Saturday.