KINGSVILLE, Texas – Following a 12-day hiatus, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team will be back at it on Tuesday when they host the Midwestern State Mustangs in a Lone Star Conference matchup at the Steinke Physical Education Center at 5:15 p.m.
The nearly two-week break from competition has given the Javelinas (3-7, 0-3) a chance to regroup after five consecutive losses. While the team has struggled on offense during the current skid, their defense has remained one of the LSC's best. Their last two times out, they held Texas Woman's and Cameron to 50 and 51 points, respectively. Those two performances helped TAMUK move into second place in conference in points-per-game allowed at 58.5. In 10 games, Wade Scott's team has held eight of their ten opponents below their seasonal averages in scoring and shooting.
While you won't find Midwestern State dominating the Lone Star Conference's statistical leaderboards, the Mustangs have forged the second best record in the league at 3-0 with an overall mark of 6-2. They sit just a half-game behind 4-0 West Texas A&M. In their first three conference contests, MSU disposed of Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce and Angelo State. On Tuesday, the Mustangs will be attempting to stretch their win streak to four for the first time this season. Their two losses have come at the hands of Colorado Mesa and Lubbock Christian, who are both nationally ranked.
Offensively, Midwestern State ranks fifth in the LSC with 66.5 ppg and senior Whitney Taylor has functioned as the main catalyst for coach Noel Johnson's attack. Taylor hit a trio of season-highs in her team's win over ASU, recording 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in nine-point win. The native of Melissa, Texas is currently averaging 12.0 ppg, 10th in the conference, and will be looking to continue the success she had against the Hoggies last season. Taylor scored in double-figures against TAMUK twice in 2016-17, including a 20-point night on Dec. 19th in a 60-47 Kingsville victory.
The Javelinas offense has been powered by Angelica Wilson, who is fresh off her fourth double-double of the season: an 11-point, 12-rebound night against Cameron. Wilson has moved into fourth-place in the conference with an average of 8.4 rebounds per game and she also stands as her team's leading scorer. Emmeri Archer sits second on the team in scoring and is the only Javelina to have started every game so far this year.
The all-time series between these schools stands at 26 wins for the Mustangs and 17 for the Javelinas. Both squads stole wins in the other team's building a year ago with Meesha Wade's 12 points and 10 rebounds leading TAMUK past MSU on Dec. 19th of last season in Wichita Falls. The Mustangs returned the favor a-month-and-a-half later, scratching out a 46-45 triumph in Kingsville. Midwestern State enters this matchup riding a three-game win streak at the SPEC.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast live through Javelinaathletics.com. Live stats, video and audio will be available with Mark Inserra and Jim Carl on the call and the game will also be broadcast live on KTAI 91.1. Javelinaathletics.com is also where you can go postgame for a full recap. Receive content for Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball by following @TAMUKWBB on Twitter and Instagram, liking the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (/JavelinaSports), and subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube channel.
