Kingsville - Less than 48 hours after going down to the wire with the No.6-ranked team in the country, the Texas A&M - Kingsville women's basketball team is set to battle with the No.2 Texas Woman's Pioneers on Saturday at 2 p.m..

The team out-scored the UT-Tyler Patriots in each of the last three quarters in yesterday's road tilt with the sixth-best team in the nation, but fell 61-54. Tomorrow's opponent brings an 18-game win streak into the matchup, including a 66-48 win over the Javelinas when these two teams faced off in Kingsville in January. 

"We are excited about the opportunity to play the best in the country and LSC," Head Coach Michael Madrid said. "Tremendous measuring stick in February for our team. I know our players are excited to get back on the floor and improve."

The Javelinas rank third in the LSC in field goal percentage, shooting 43.2%, and fourth in the three-point percentage, shooting 33.0%. In addition to their hot shooting, TAMUK has also been safe with the basketball, averaging the fourth-fewest turnovers in the conference and the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio. That offense has been a by-committee affair all season, with redshirt sophomore forward Kaycee Groves taking lead duties the last few games. Exactly one week's time ago, she had never had a double-double in her career, now she has two.

Defense, however is where the Javelinas, like their Pioneer counterparts, hang their hats. Kingsville holds opponents to 54.4 points per game, the 16th-best mark in the nation. The game may well become a defensive battle, as TWU boasts the fifth-best mark in D2 in both scoring defense and opponent field goal percentage.

"Every game is different and every team defends different in their own way," Madrid said. "We have to take advantage of the windows we get and be shot-ready. Confident and decisive when we catch the ball."

In addition to their vaunted defense, the Pioneers' offense has been strong as well, leading the Lone Star in field goal percentage with 45.0. Amazingly, they are also third in the LSC in both fewest turnovers and assist-to-turnover ratio. 

"TWU doesn't have any weaknesses and they certainly don't beat themselves," Madrid said. "They rebound well and defend. We have to continue to work daily on our ability to rebound. Simply comes down to effort and urgency."

The game will tip off an hour later than the usual Saturday time of 1 p.m., Javelina Nation can watch live on FloSports or follow along with the live stats or on social media @Javelinawbb.