Commerce, Texas – A&M-Commerce tips-off on Wednesday, January 20 against #1 ranked West Texas A&M at 5:30 pm in The Field House.
The Lions look to defend their 5-1 record at home this season after a 75-53 win over Midwestern State. After losing their home opener to Southern Arkansas, the Lions have won five straight games at home. The Lions average 70.5 points per game this season, and averages 74.8 points per game in conference play, leading the Lone Star Conference. The Lions rank second in the conference in offensive rebounding (14.3 rebounds per game), and defensive rebounds (28.6 rebounds per game).
Artaejah Gay is the new scoring leader for the Lions with ten points per game after recording two double-doubles in a span of three games. Gay also averages 12.4 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game in conference play. The Lone Star Conference leading rebounder
Amari Jones averages nine boards per game as well as nine points per game.
Gabby Scott,
Shomari Harris, and
Princess Davis joins Jones with nine points per game, while
Khala Riley adds eight points per game
Top rank West Texas A&M comes into The Field House with a 16-1 overall record, and a 5-1 Lone Star Conference record. The Lady Buffs trounced Texas A&M-Kingsville 85-49 after losing their first game of the season at Angelo State 69-64, ending their 15-game win streak. Coming into this matchup, the Lady Buffs are 37-2 in their last 39 games dating back to last season. WT averages a Lone Star Conference second-best 73 points per game, and have a league best 52.2 points per game in scoring defense. The Lady Buffs leads the Lone Star Conference in field goal percentage shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and moves the ball well, dishing out 17.5 assists per game. Michaela Neuhaus leads WT in scoring with 11.4 points per game, shooting 52.5percent from the floor (63-of-120), 45.8 percent from the three-point line (33-of-72), and 91.9 percent from the stripe (34-of-37). Preseason Player of the Year, Sasha Watson, averages 10.4 points per game, and leads the team with 81 assists and 37 steals. Kristen Mattio is serving her first year as the head coach of the Lady Buffs, replacing Mark Kellogg who relocated to Stephen F. Austin. Mattio aided Kellogg as associate head coach for the past two seasons at WT and has worked with Kellogg dating back to 2003 where they first worked together at Montana State University.
The Lions are 5-52 all-time against the Lady Buffs. The last win the Lions had versus WT was in an 81-71 playoff win in the 2006-07 historic season. That season, the Lions received their only LSC Champions title, and made an appearance to the Elite Eight where they fell to Clayton State, 60-55. The Lions look to end a current 13-game losing streak Wednesday, January 20.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and @Lion_WBB as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
