COMMERCE, TEXAS – A&M-Commerce women's basketball (11-9; 5-5 overall) will put their 7-3 home-record on the line this Thursday, when the A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (0-21; 0-11 in LSC) come to town to brave the hostile Field House environment.
 
The Lions and Javelinas played previously in the year in the Steinke Physical Education Center on the campus of A&M-Kingsville. TAMUK gave A&M-Commerce all they could handle in a wild back-and-forth game, but the Lions staved off a late push, holding on for the 68-65. La'Tisha Hearne led the way with a near double-double, emerging as one of four Lions in double-digit scoring. A&M-Kingsville's three-point loss was the closest they came all season to picking up a win. Fans can listen in live to either 88.9 KETR or 107.1 Thunder Country as A&M-Commerce looks to get back to their winning ways.
 
A&M-Commerce rides an uncharacteristic two-game losing streak, their only skid of the season since a three-game dip spanning the holiday break. Their defeats came against top-notch competition in the form of Cameron and Midwestern State, the second and third ranked teams in the conference. Prior to that, the Lions had rattled off seven wins over a nine-game span. That's the kind of success head coach Jason Burton will look to return to, starting with Thursday's contest.
 
The Lions have found excellent production from redshirt senior forward Abigail Leaupepe-Tele, who hit a season-high 18 points in the loss to MSU, coming within a mere two points of matching her career-high of 20. Previously, Leaupepe-Tele set a career-high in the rebounding department in the win over Texas Woman's, snagging 15 boards in the come from behind overtime victory. Despite only averaging 17.0 minutes per game this year, she's secured seven double-digit scoring performances on the year.
 
The rest of the frontcourt has found success for the Lions at varying points throughout the season. Senior forward La'Tisha Hearne has twice earned LSC Player of the Week Honors, once on offense and again on defense. Junior center Kiana Evans has been quite efficient from the free throw line in 2015, going 80 percent (16 of 20) dating back to January 11. Freshman Artaejah Gay meanwhile secured the first start of her collegiate career against MSU, and not long before that, earned her first double-double in the win over Tarleton State.
 
The winless Javelinas, who have 21 losses on the season, are unsurprisingly ranked dead last in a variety of categories, including points (53.5 PPG), scoring margin (-14.9), field goal percentage (34.9%), opponent field goal percentage (42.9%), three point field goal percentage (24.1%), three pointers (2.9 3pg), free throw percentage (64.3%), defensive rebounding (23.5 DRPG), rebounding margin (-4.2), turnover margin (-3.0) and assists (10.5 APG).
TAMUK's greatest offensive threat this year has been Micah Weaver, who ranks third in the LSC in field goal percentage (45.3%). She leads the Javelinas in scoring as the only player to average double-digit points (11.0 PPG). Senior forward Lauren Jay is the squad's most prolific rebounder (6.3 RPG) as well as their best defensive opportunist (1.4 SPG). In their previous matchup with the Lions, Jay led all scorers with 16 points, to go along with six rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
 
The two programs have met 60 times previously dating back to the 1971-72 season, when women's basketball was first introduced at A&M-Commerce. The Lions control a narrow 32-28 advantage over the Javelinas, but have had particular success in recent years, going 10-4 dating back to 2003-04.
 
Tipoff is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the Field House. Admission costs $8 for the double header. For children between 4 and 12, the price is $5. For kids three and under, as well as current students with a valid ID, entry is free of charge.