COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team travels to Wichita Falls to face Midwestern State on Thursday. It will be the second game between the two schools, with A&M-Commerce winning the first game 73-60 on Dec. 3.
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (13-5, 7-3 LSC) vs. Midwestern State (5-11, 2-8 LSC)
WHERE: D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=150913
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msu/
LIVE AUDIO: www.ketr.org
The Lions are coming off a 78-60 win against West Texas A&M, their first win over WT since 2007. Head coach
Jason Burton was proud of the way his team played to break the 15-game losing streak against the Lady Buffs.
"It meant a lot," he said. "It means that we are continuing to go in the right direction and we are continuing to build this program and get better. West Texas is a very good program and an impressive team. But our team played really well. I thought our team played the best they played all season and I think we set the bar of how we need to play as a team going forward."
Burton said his team's focus was at the highest level it had been all season. They brought their "A" game and played a complete contest. Burton hopes his team can channel that focus and energy in every game they play for the rest of the season.
"Our girls knew how many times West Texas had beat us and they knew the history," Burton said. "They've known how dominant West Texas has been as a ball club. They knew if we didn't come to play that we would lose that game. But we have to have that mentality against anyone that we play. We are going into the last 10 games of the season and we have done a good job so far of putting ourselves in position to have a lot of success in March but we have to continue to play. Every game counts."
The Lions are halfway through their conference season. They have faced every other team once and will run the LSC gauntlet again. The Lions now must face Midwestern State for the second time. The Lions defeated the Mustangs 73-60 on Dec. 3, using a 31-6 run in the second half to get back into the game after being down by eight early in the third quarter. Burton knows that his team can't fall into a big hole again against MSU, especially on the road.
"In our first two conference games, we went into halftime at home with the other team ahead," he said. "Now we've got to go into their place against two talented teams. We have to stay out of foul trouble. But the other thing is, our attention to detail from where we are now to where we were at that point of the season, we are a different team. We have to make sure the team we are right now and the team we were against West Texas shows up and not the team that played those first two Lone Star Conference games."
Burton also knows that MSU isn't the same team that lost in Commerce nearly six weeks ago. He knows it will be an entirely new ball game and it will need a new game plan. Burton is confident that his team will be up to the challenge. He also likes how his team's offense has evolved since December.
"We are moving the ball well," he said. "One thing that has been consistent all year has been our ability to rebound and make free throws. We've had to find different ways to get to the free throw line and getting inside the paint because of how teams have guarded us this year. We are a different team because we have seen pretty much everything we are going to see as far as how teams are going to defend us. We have seen zone, press, man, double teams. It's just a matter of handling it and making sure we are under control, we don't rush and be who we are as a team."
The Lions are coming off of a three-game home stand, after playing seven in a row on the road. Now A&M-Commerce must get on the bus once again.
"Those are two tough games on the road in tough places to play," Burton said. "Midwestern does a good job. Their fan base is great and in tune with the game. It has been nice to be back at home but we have been comfortable on the road. We just have to make sure we get out on the road and take care of business."
