COMMERCE, TEXAS – With a chance to refuel over the Thanksgiving break, women's basketball (2-2) will look to get back on track this weekend with a trip to Southern Arkansas University to take on the Lady Muleriders (3-2).
 
The Lions will try and put the 81-49 shellacking they took from undefeated Texas A&M-International earlier this week behind them, as they'll attempt to bounce back and once again move above .500.
 
The Lady Muleriders come off last season's 12-15 record in which they finished eighth in the Great American Conference (GAC). They've responded this year with wins against Angelo State, Southern Nazarene, and Roger's State, the most convincing of which was their 63-42 win over the Crimson Storm.
 
Their last game, a 73-63 win over Roger's State, featured a 25 point scoring performance from senior forward Chanel Miller in only 20 minutes of action. Miller has led all scorers for the Lady Muleriders by averaging 13.4 points per game on a highly efficient 87.5 percent from the charity stripe and 52.4 percent from the field.
 
Southern Arkansas head coach Rusty Rainbolt has established a reputation of using deep rotations all year, his last game against Roger's State featuring 15 different players checking in. As such, nobody at SAU averages more than 19 minutes per contest, and thus nobody's numbers are particularly jaw-dropping. Only two players, Rosa Bryant and Baryion Wyatt, average over four rebounds per game, and nobody besides the aforementioned Miller averages double-digit scoring.
 
For the Lions, they'll continue relying upon former LSC Offensive Player of the Week La'Tisha Hearne, who currently ranks in the top 5 in the conference in field goal percentage (52.5 percent), scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg). Also expected to be a significant aid to the Lions' cause will be senior guard Ashlee Johnson, who currently ranks top-2 in the conference in steals (2.5 spg), assists (4.3 apg) and minutes (33.8 mpg).
 
Though their last game against the Dustdevils was one to forget, one of the few bright spots was Artaejah Gay's production off the bench, delivering eight points, seven boards and a block. Coupled with the likes of Abigail Leaupepe-Tele, who's averaged seven points and seven rebounds this year, the Lions bench will aim to go toe-to-toe with the Lady Muleriders' lengthy rotation.
 
The Lions and Lady Muleriders have met on the court 20 times in the past, dating as far back as 1987. Southern Arkansas holds a narrow edge with a 11-9 record against A&M-Commerce, but the Lions have won their last five straight against SAU. The last time the Lady Muleriders were able to prevail against A&M-Commerce was back in 2004.
 
Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 29 at 2 p.m. at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center on the campus of Southern Arkansas University. After that, the Lions get a full week off before at last returning home next Saturday to host the Roger's State Hillcats.