Kingsville - One week after pushing No.23 Lubbock Christian to the brink on the road, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team returns to the SPEC for its final home weekend of the season, which begins with a Throwback Night matchup against No.11 West Texas A&M.

The contest will mark the second ranked team that the Javelinas have faced off with in their last three games. They will also take on No.2 Texas Woman's in TAMUK's season finale on Saturday February 28.

"Five of our last six will be regional tournament teams," Head Coach Michael Madrid said. "Our team is aware of this and excited about the opportunity to play against the best. That is why you coach and play in the LSC."

The game is the first of Kingsville's final two home games this season, with their year's home finale coming Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Eastern New Mexico. TAMUK will be hoping to continue a strong stretch of play against the Lady Buffs, having beaten them in two out of their last two matchups, including last year's 80-44 thumping of WT at home. The other win in that stretch came back in December of 2022, which is also the last time TAMUK beat a ranked opponent at home. The upset-minded Javelinas will be hoping to replicate that contest, when they beat No.2/4 West Texas, 71-60. 

Scouting the Competition: The No.11 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs (22-3, 14-2 LSC)

The Lady Buffs enter the weekend with the second-best record in the LSC, two games behind Texas Woman's. They've won three of their last four games, with the one loss in that stretch coming at the hands of the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in overtime, 61-57. 

They boast the conference's best scoring offense at 77.0 (18th in the nation), in addition to its third-best team field goal percentage at 44.3% (26th in the nation), and its third-best team three-point shooting percentage at 32.9%.

On paper, it should also prove to be a battle of two of the LSC's best on the glass. Kingsville has held opponents to, on average, the second-fewest total rebounds per game in the LSC, and the fourth-best mark in the conference at +4.6. WT has been stellar in that regard as well, as they hold the best rebound margin in the conference at +8.4 (23rd in the nation), and 41.5 total rebounds per game (27th in the nation).

"WT is deep, talented, and experienced," Madrid said. "They play well together and share the ball. Most importantly, they make shots. Definitely will be a challenge as they average a number of points per game."

Javelina Quick Hitters

• Kingsville posted a spectacular defensive performance against No.23 Lubbock Christian on Thursday, holding the team to just 3-of-21 shooting from the field in the second half and 0-of-7 in the fourth quarter as they pushed LCU to the brink in Lubbock
• Redshirt junior guard Kaycee Groves had a spectacular performance in February 5's LSC win over the Hilltoppers, dropping 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, the highest single-game scoring effort by a Javelina since February of 2023 - that began a stretch of four straight games scoring in double figures for Groves
• In the team's 15 LSC games, Groves had led the team in scoring (12.4, 12th in the LSC) rebounding (6.2, 15th in the LSC), steals (2.0, 15th in the LSC), and blocks (0.8, 11th in the LSC))
• Freshman guard Jadeyn Parez has been impactful in her early starts, highlighted by a 24-point explosion against Oklahoma Christian; She is shooting 45.8% from the field and 41.5% 3PT (leads team) on the season
• TAMUK has been excellent on the boards so far this year, ranking fourth in the LSC with +4.6 per game in rebound margin; the Javelinas limit opponents to 31.3 rebounds per game (second best in the LSC)
• In the 16 in-conference games that the Javelinas have played, they've been even better, posting a rebound margin of +6.2 (fourth in the LSC), and leading the conference in fewest total opponent rebounds (30.6)
• Sophomore forward Thalia Daniels has had a strong start to her career in the blue and gold, leading the team on the glass at 5.9 rebounds per game (with 6.4 ppg).
• While she leads a team effort on the glass, the Javelinas' success on the boards has been a group project - six different Javelinas average 3.4-plus rebounds per game this season (three at 4.6-plus)
• The second-winningest Head Coach in program history, Michael Madrid is beginning his seventh year at the helm for the Javelinas just six LSC wins from passing Jill Wilson for the most conference wins in program history