A&M-Commerce will take on their third Division I team this season when they face the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin on Monday. The Lions will try to make it back-to-back wins after getting their first win of the season last time out versus Ouachita Baptist. The Lions then open up Lone Star Conference play when the calendar turns to 2014 when Angelo and Midwestern State come to The Field House. This season marks the third straight season in which the Lions open up their conference schedule at home.
A&M-Commerce Lions at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Monday, Dec. 30 • 6 p.m.
William R. Johnson Coliseum • Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (1-7), Stephen F. Austin (5-6)
Live Stats: sfajacks.cstv.com/gametracker
Live Video: sfajacks.cstv.com/allaccess
Live Audio: KETR.org
Angelo State Rambelles at A&M-Commerce Lions
Wednesday, Jan. 2 - 5:30 p.m.
The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: Angelo State (6-4), A&M-Commerce (1-7)
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/tamuc
Live Audio: KETR.org
Midwestern State Mustangs at A&M-Commerce Lions
Saturday, Jan. 4 • 2 p.m.
The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (8-3), A&M-Commerce (1-7)
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/tamuc
Live Audio: KETR.org
LIONS ON THE WEB
Fans unable to make to Nacogdoches or The Field House this week will able to tune in to Charlie Chitwood's call on KETR (88.9) and online at KETR.org. Twitter users can get in-game updates by following @Lion_WBB and @Lion_Athletics. Live Stats will be available for all games this week with those links being found at Lionathletics.com.
SERIES SCORE
The Lions have not beaten the Lumberjacks in their four previous meetings. The two sides have not meet since the 1975-76 season, a game that saw SFA prevail, 81-49. The last meeting predates the formation of NCAA women's athletics. A&M-Commerce holds a 22-39 record against the Rambelles all-time but have won two of the last three meetings in Commerce. Midwestern State has won the last six meetings and have a 38-17 edge in the all-time series against the Lions.
SCOUTING THE LADY JACKS
Stephen F. Austin are coming into the game with a two game winning streak that comes after three straight losses at the start of December. The two wins have both come at home and are over Grambling State and Henderson State. SFA is led by Porsha Roberts at 15.2 points per game, which is seventh in the Southland. Roberts also ranks sixth in FG percentage.
2013-14 Record: 5-6
Head Coach: Brandon Schneider - Fourth Season at SFA - 360-123 Career Record
Key Players
#5 - Porsha Roberts: 15.2 ppg / 7.0 rpg / 2.5 bpg / 51.9% FG
#1 - Brittney Matthew: 11.3 ppg / 2.8 apg / 1.0 spg / 78.9% FT
#21 - Daylyn Harris: 10.7 ppg / 4.6 rpg / 44.8% FG / 72.7% FT
SCOUTING THE RAMBELLES
The Rambelles are coming into the game versus A&M-Commerce with a 4-1 record in their last five games. This comes on the heels of a two-game losing streak for the Rambelles. Angelo State have only played three games away from home and have posted a 1-2 record in those contests. The Rambelles have been winning games with thier defense so far by only allowing 52.9 points per game, which puts them fourth in Division II.
2013-14 Record: 6-4
Head Coach: Cayla Petree - First Season
Key Players
#10 Hilliari Adam: 14.5 ppg / 7.6 rpg / 51.5% FG / 45.2% 3PT
#13 Amanda Weaver: 8.8 ppg / 2.5 rpg / 46.7% 3PT / 78.9% FT
#24 Rochelle Norris: 7.7 ppg / 3.5 rpg / 44% FG / 1.5 spg
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
The Mustangs take on Texas Woman's in their conference opener prior for traveling to Commerce for the game versus the Lions. Midwestern State iscoming into conference play with a five game winning streak and have not lost since a 77-55 defeat to #4 Emporia State.
2013-14 Record: 8-3
Head Coach: Noel Johnson - Sixth Season - 80-68
Key Players
#11 Andrea Carter: 15.3 ppg / 8.4 rpg / 55.8% FG / 74.5% FT
#25 Kristi Degelia: 11.3 ppg / 2.5 rpg / 3.5 apg / 44.4% 3PT
#33 Dianna Jones: 10.8 ppg / 1.5 rpg / 4.4 apg / 51.6% FG
NOW LETS MAKE IT TWO...
A&M-Commerce got its first win of the season last time out versus Ouachita Baptist and will now look to win back-to-back games for the first time since beating Eastern New Mexico and Abilene Christian last March.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
The win for the Lions over Ouachita Baptist was the first in program history for A&M-Commerce. Ouachita Baptist had won the first nine meetings by an average of 19.1 points per game.
LIONS VERSUS SOUTHLAND SCHOOLS
Currently the Lions are 17-98 against schools that are current members of the Southland Conference. Half of those wins and losses came against Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word when the two schools were members of the LSC prior to this season. The Lions have only beaten Lamar and Sam Houston State besides ACU and UIW.
DIXON AND HARRIS AMONG GREATS
Seniors Danielle Dixon and Breanna Harris have chances to become the ninth and 10th players in program history to reach 1,000 points in a Lion uniform. Dixon needs 49 points to reach 1,000 and Harris needs 132 to reach that milestone.
HARRIS CONTINUES TO GRAB DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Harris continues to put up great production despite the results on the scoreboard. Harris is averaging 18.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in six games so far. Harris has recorded double-doubles in four of eight games.
IMPROVEMENT FROM THE FIELD
In the last two the games the Lions have shot an improved percentage from their season mark. In a loss to Henderson State the Lions shot a season high 51.7% from the field and shot 46.3% in the win over OBU. Those two games marked just the second and third times this season that the Lions shot over 40% from the field.
NOT MUCH RESISTANCE
The Lions have not been playing much defense in their 1-7 start. The defense has been allowing 81.5 ppg and getting outscored by 12.9 per contest.
WHERE'S THE HOME-COOKING?...THERE IT IS!
The Lions have only played three home games and have lost all four games on the road and one neutral court loss. A&M-Commerce split their last two games at home and will not play at home again until the new year when Lone Star Conference play starts.
NEW SEASON SAME PROBLEM
The Lions have struggled from the free-throw line (54.2%) like last season. Symone Brown leads the team in free throw shooting with a 71.4% clip.
SHOOTING…AND…MISSING
The Lions have also struggled from behind the three-point line so far this season. Currently, A&M-C is shooting 25.7% from downtown and ranks near the bottom of the LSC and all of Division II
Head Coach Nicole Anderson
Anderson enters her fifth season at the helm of the A&M-Commerce Lions women's basketball program. Expectations have been raised for Anderson and the Lions after last season's nine win improvement from 2011-12. The turn around also earned Anderon Co-Coach of the Year for the Lone Star Conference a season ago.
