COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team hits the road for two games over the Thanksgiving week. They begin by facing Great American Conference foe Ouachita Baptist University on Wednesday in Arkadelphia. They then face Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Sunday.

GAME 1
WHO: A&M-Commerce (3-1) at Ouachita Baptist (2-2)
WHEN: Wednesday, November 23 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Bill Vining Arena in Arkadelphia, Ark.
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ouachita/wbball/

GAME 2
WHO: A&M-Commerce (3-2) at Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-1)
WHEN: Sunday, November 27 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant, Okla.
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/se/wbball/
LIVE VIDEO: http://gosoutheastern.com/sports/2015/8/31/GEN_0831155904.aspx?&tab=3

The Lions enter the week on a three-game winning streak, having knocked off two opponents in their home-opening weekend. The Lions are 3-1 for the first time since 2012-13. The success is something third-year A&M-Commerce head coach Jason Burton doesn't take lightly or for granted.
 
"We've only played four games but 3-1 is the best start we've had since I've been here," he said. "It's not easy to go on a three-game winning streak at any point of the season. As we go on the road this week, we have to continue to do the things we have been doing."
 
With the Thanksgiving holiday coming this week, Burton said he hasn't had to keep his team focused on the task at hand. He said his team is excited to keep the season going and to continue the success that other teams have had at the university in the past months.
 
"You look around the school, with all the energy with what soccer did and what volleyball did and what football is still doing, nobody is talking about holidays or breaks," Burton said. "Football is about to go to Michigan for Thanksgiving and play in the second round of the playoffs. We are feeding off of that. We are feeding off of what the men's basketball team is doing, being undefeated right now. Our girls are excited that it is their turn to compete."
 
The Lions won on Sunday night against St. Edward's University, relying heavily on their defense for the first three quarters as their offense was largely stagnant. Burton said his players never doubted in themselves or their abilities and continued to fight to win the game despite their struggles.
 
"We stuck to the game plan and held them to 26 points in the first half. We just couldn't score the ball at all," Burton said. "But I thought we got good looks. We did a much better job rebounding in the second half. That was the difference. Some of the shots that weren't falling in the first half, they fell in the second half and the ones that didn't fall, we were able to get some second-chance shots. I'm proud of the fight of our girls."
 
Burton saw his defense as key to being able to win against SEU. Although the team struggled to score, the defense came through to keep the game within reach. He knew his team would break out of its funk and start to see the ball go in the basket.
 
"That's the best our defense has played," he said. "Even though we weren't scoring, we made them change what they do. That was key for us. With the ball not falling in the bucket, they never really extended that lead. It was always a close game and we always felt like we were right there in the game. And we found other ways to score. We did that by getting to the free throw line in the second half and getting the ball into the paint better. We stuck with the game plan."
 
Burton singled out Princess Davis as a key piece to the defensive success against the Hilltoppers. She played 39 of a possible 40 minutes and shadowed SEU's leading scorer, holding her to half of her normal scoring average. While it may have hurt her production on offense, Burton said Davis is willing to do anything to help the team win, without regard for her personal stats.
 
"That's the type of player Princess is," Burton said. "She is not a "me" person. If she is asking about stats, she is asking about assists and turnovers. She doesn't want to turn the ball over and she wants to get her teammates involved. She wants to do whatever it takes to win. She is a kid that looks forward to playing against challenging point guards. She gets excited for those games because she can make her mark on the defensive end. I thought she did that Sunday against St. Edward's."
 
The team began to see their shots fall in the fourth quarter and Burton said it sparked his team. He felt the patience of his players finally paid off as their open shots began to fall.
 
"As the ball started to go in, we started to play with more energy," he said. "The thing about this team is that they are so competitive. They are going to do what it takes to win and do what it takes to fight. In that game, in the fourth quarter, being a close game at home, we couldn't let that game slip away."
 
Burton likes the way his team's leaders are starting to emerge and how his players have started to coach and lead each other. He sees that as a necessary element for his team to be successful throughout the season.
 
"It was fun with the different voices that started to step up in the fourth quarter," he said. "You've got people like Khala Riley, this is her senior year and her year to lead and her voice is starting to carry a little bit more in practice and in games. In that fourth quarter, it wasn't just the coaches talking. Other players started talking to each other. They started to talk about what they needed to do. That made the difference in the fourth quarter. That is something that has got to continue to carry over if we want to continue this winning streak."

The Lions face an Ouachita Baptist squad that is also coming of a two-win weekend, where they scored two early conference wins. Burton said they are a tough team to guard and he understands the challenges his team will face against the Tigers. 

"They play a very unique style of basketball," he said. "They usually get the best shot they can get and they run the shot clock. If you play 30 seconds of defense and they miss the shot but get the rebound and you have to play another 30 seconds, it can be exhausting. I think this game is going to be about who controls the tempo and who's able to play their game better. They are a high-execution team and we are going to have to do some things to get them off their rhythm."

The Lions will finish their two game road trip against Southeastern Oklahoma on Sunday. They will then turn their attention to their conference schedule.