KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team (0-10) opens Lone Star Conference play with back-to-back games this week in Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center on Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. First up will be Texas Woman's (8-5, 1-1 LSC) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with the game being sponsored by Big House Restaurants. The Javelinas then take on Texas A&M-Commerce at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Micah Weaver is the lone player for the Blue and Gold averaging more than 10 points at contest at 11.0. She also contributes 5.5 rpg and 1.6 apg while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 76.9 percent at the free throw line.
Both
Lauren Jay and
Michelle Wagner are scoring 7.9 and 7.7 ppg, respectively. Both
Kyra Bauer and
Tessa Ramirez have made a team-high seven three-pointers.
Defensively, Jay has grabbed a team-best 6.2 rpg while
Ope Ibrahim has blocked seven shots on the season.
As a team, the Javelinas are shooting 33.5 percent from the field, including just 25.2 percent from downtown, and 63.2 percent of their shots from the charity stripe. They grab 40.7 boards a contest, the third most in the conference.
TAMUK leads the all-time series with the Pioneers 28-24 following TWU's seven-point victory in the first round of the 2014 LSC Tournament. The last win for the Blue and Gold came on Feb. 14, 2014 at home in a 107-102 triple overtime thriller.
Pacing the Pioneers in points (11.8) and rebounds (5.9) is Emily Spector, one of six Division I transfers on the roster. Kenesha Saygo has made 82.5 percent of her foul shots this season on the way to averaging 9.3 ppg.
Ashley Salazar leads the team with an 85.4 free throw percentage, 2.0 spg and 15 made threes while putting up 9.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg. Dishing out the assists is Barbara-Scott Kolb at 2.4 per game.
TWU is scoring 64.6 ppg while hitting 40.4 percent of their shots, 30.7 percent from beyond the arc and 72.1 percent at the free throw line. On the glass, they retrieve 39.3 boards a contest and have a +3.7 rebounding margin over their opponents.
The Lions come into Thursday's contest with a slim 30-29 advantage in the all-time series with the Javelinas. Last season, TAMUK took both meetings including an 80-55 victory at home.
Entering the game, La'Tisha Hearne leads TAMUC with 12.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg and a 50.0 field goal percentage. Also averaging in double-figures is Princess Davis at 10.5 ppg following a 20-point performance Monday night against Arlington Baptist. She also paces the LSC with 4.1 apg.
A 6-foot, 2-inch senior from San Diego, California, Abigail Leaupep-Tele is contributing 8.0 ppg and 6.2 rpg in just 17.7 minutes a contest. Ashlee Johnson has added 7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 3.3 apg as well.
The Lions score 66.7 ppg while making 39.0 percent of their shots and just 26.9 percent of three-point attempts. At the free throw line they manage to make only 64.6 percent. TAMUC does grab 40.8 rpg and has a slim +0.6 advantage on the boards.
Live stats and video, with no audio, will be available for both games and for free.
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