November 24, 2012

Southeastern Oklahoma State vs. A&M-Commerce
Saturday, November 24 - 2:00 p.m.
The Field House – Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (1-0); Southeastern Oklahoma State (1-2)

Radio: KETR 88.9 FM (listen online at KETR.org)
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
Live Video: LionAthletics.com

Opening Tip: The A&M-Commerce Lions have won two in a row dating back to last season's finale win against Angelo State. This marks the first time since the 2009-10 season that they have won back-to-back games. Those victories came against Angelo State at home and at Eastern New Mexico. The Lions face former Lone Star Conference rival Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Savage Storm left the LSC before last season to join the Great American Conference with other Oklahoma school and some Arkansas schools.

Series Score: Even with the Savage Storm no longer in the LSC the Lions have continued to play them with opening last season in Durant. In the game last season the Lion suffered a tough loss, 85-82. The Savage Storm had controlled the all-time series against the Lions, holding a 24-6 record against the Lions all-time. The Lions have dropped seven in a row against the Savage Storm and have not beaten Southeastern since 2007-08. That was a four point win, 78-74, at home.

Scouting the Savage Storm:

2012-13: 1-2, 0-0 Great American Conference
2011-12: 11-17, 6-10 GAC (8th) - 3-8 road

Head Coach: Darin Glover - Eighth Season (103-69 .560) - Oklahoma State (1999)

Key Players
• #20 - Breanna Small-Peppers: 14.5 ppg / 6.0 rpg / 70% FT / 55% FG
• #50 - Haley Schaefer: 11.7 ppg / 7.0 rpg / 71% FT / 52% FG
• #11 - Bailey Welch: 10.0 ppg / 3.7 rpg / 80% FT / 38% FG
• #13 - Ronay English: 11.3 ppg / 4.7 rpg / 67% FT / 40% FG

The Savage Storm come to Commerce with a 1-2 record on the season. Southeastern has suffered loses to Oklahoma Christian and Northeastern State (Okla.). Last time out the Storm bested Oklahoma Christian 91-90 in the second half of a home and home series. The Storm struggled last season and had a losing record for the first time in four seasons. The roster consists of seven freshmen and only two seniors this season. 

Impressive Showings: The Lions had an impressive game in their opener for the 2012-13 season last Tuesday night against Southern Arkansas. The Lions were led by junior forward Breanna Harris who registered a career high 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Harris scored 22 in the first half and 13 of the first 15 Lion points. Newcomers Amber Carver and Audree Butts impressed in their debuts in Lion uniforms. Carver finished with nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes. Butts had stuffed the stat sheet with four points, four rebounds, five steals, two blocks and two assists. Courtney Briscoe tied a career high with her 13 point effort.

Lions on the Web: Fans unable to make it to the Field House for the 2012-13 season opener against Southern Arkansas can still stay up-to-date on every Lion basket. Live video of the game will be available at LionAthletics.com, powered by Stretch Internet. A single game runs $7.95 with season passes for every home game of the 2012-13 season available. KETR 88.9 FM will call the game live with Charlie Chitwood handling the play-by-play duties, with the game also available online at KETR.org. Live statistics are available at LionAthletics.com with Twitter updates @Lion_Athletics.

What is Back: The Lions return their top two scorers in Danielle Dixon (12.6 ppg) and Breanna Harris (12.3 ppg) from last season. Coming back this season are also the top three rebounders who all averaged over four per game including; La'Tisha Hearne, Danielle Dixon and Breanna Harris who averaged 8.8. The Lions bring back six of the top seven players based on minutes per game from last season.
             Junior Danielle Dixon returns as the leading scorer, passer and third on the team in steals. Dixon finished 14th in scoring in the Lone Star Conference. She ranks among the top ten in returning assist leaders from last season. Dixon ranks among the top ten returners in three point field goals made per game with 2.3.
            Fellow junior Breanna Harris returns as the second leading scorer with 12.3 ppg. Harris is the leading returning rebounder in the conference bringing down 8.8 rebounds per game one season ago. Harris led the Lone Star Conference in offensive rebounds per game last season with 4.8 per game. Harris was third in the LSC in field goal percentage and is the ranked second among returners with .519% last season.

New Faces: Head Coach Nicole Anderson welcomes in a host of new players into the program this season.  Amber Carver is a transfer from Oral Roberts University, Symone Brown is a transfer from Montana State University, Shankequa Bibbs comes to A&M-Commerce by way of Southwest Mississippi C.C.. Aubree Butts, Rachel Bail and Brittany Clarke come in as true freshmen.
            At Oral Roberts Carver appeared in 57 games with 32 starts while averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds over her two seasons with the Golden Eagles. She recorded 11 double-doubles and averaged just less than one block per game.
            After redshirting last season at Montana State Brown will have four years of eligibility left here at A&M-Commerce. Brown received numerous accolades in high school including CIF Division 3AA 1st Team in her Junior and Senior seasons, Long Beach Telegram Dream Honorable mention in 2010. As a senior Brown averaged 20.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.3 asg at Richard Gahr High School.
            True Freshmen Aubree Butts comes to A&M-Commerce from Lewisville, Texas where she earned 1st Team All-District her freshmen, sophomore and junior seasons. She also earned All-Academic Team in her first three seasons in high school.
             Fellow Freshmen Brittany Clarke arrives from Flower Mound High School where she averaged 7.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game over her career. Clarke also received Academic All-State selection from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Head Coach Nicole Anderson: Anderson enters her fourth season at the helm of the A&M-Commerce Lions woman's basketball program. Her team will look to improve from the 2-24 season they suffered each of the last two seasons and move up the conference standings in 2012-13. She has compiled an 8-70 record over her three seasons as head coach. Anderson will look to the new comers to help out in production to go along with Breanna Harris and Danielle Dixon.

Who is Next: The Lions open up conference play when the Pioneers of Texas Woman's come to the field house on Wednesday, November 28. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.