COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team will face two Lone Star Conference games at home. The Lions host Eastern New Mexico on Thursday and Western New Mexico on Saturday.
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (4-4, 1-1 LSC) vs. Eastern New Mexico (3-4, 0-2 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Western New Mexico (0-7, 0-2 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions split their first two conference games last weekend in two down to the wire finishes. The defeated Cameron in overtime and lost by three to Midwestern State. Head coach Jason Burton liked the fight of his team in both games.
 
"I think it is very tough to go on the road and win," he said. "Down four at Cameron with a minute left, it is easy to say we could drop the game. But we stayed with the game plan and were able to get to overtime and win by 10. Then you turn around and look at Midwestern. We played another close game. It was similar because we were down late and had opportunities."
 
In their game against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Princess Davis had to be taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury. Burton was happy to hear it was not as serious as it looked as Davis was able to suit up and be a major contributor in the Lions' overtime win against Cameron just five days later.
 
That's a scary moment," Burton said about Davis' injury. "The thing about P, she is a tough kid. Not only does she bounce back and play the next game, but she plays 40 minutes and helps us win our first conference game. It says a lot about her. She didn't practice at all leading up to the game. But to stay committed to the game plan and to stay in tune in practice and see what is going on and to watch the game plan from the sideline and then go into the game and do it, she is an amazing kid. I am really glad to have her back and that it wasn't anything serious."
 
Artaejah Gay hit a milestone against the Aggies, scoring her 1,000th point as a Lion. Burton was happy to see so much success come from one of his first recruits. Not only did she reach the scoring mark, she also moved into 4th all-time in blocked shots.
 
"Tae is a big part of our success," he said. "When you go somewhere and play the game long enough and well enough, you are going to see those stats. To be top-10 in a lot of things and to reach 1,000 points, it says a lot about her. But it is not just about the stats with her. She also has the intangibles, the leadership and she brings it every day in practice and her work ethic and the person she is. It says a lot about her. It is because of her that the program is where it is right now. She is a huge part of that."
 
The Lions also got a big contribution from Brianna Wise, who scored 20 points in both games last week. For her effort, she was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week. After starting the first six games of the season, Burton decided to mix things up and asked Wise to be the sixth man and come off the bench. Burton was pleased that she not only accepted the role without complaint, but flourished.
 
"We were looking to shake some things up," Burton said . "I thought we needed to get more balanced units. I brought her in and asked her, really I told her, that I needed her to come off the bench. The thing about Brianna, she is very unselfish. She is team first. Her minutes won't change but the rotation would change and she was all for it. I asked her multiple times to make sure she was ok with it and she said, 'coach, don't worry about it, I've got you.' And then you see her have two really good scoring games.
 
"She still plays the same amount of minutes, but she is doing it off the bench. To have that selflessness that she displayed, it is huge for our team and huge for our rotations. Right now, just in two conference games, we are leading the conference in scoring. A big part of that is due to her. I'm really proud of her of stepping up and committing to doing that. That is something that a lot of kids don't want to do but she had no problem doing it for our team."
 
The Lions faced two heated games to start their conference schedule. Burton was pleased with the way his team fought until the final whistle. He knows his team will not give up in any game, not until the final buzzer.
 
"Our team is battle tested," he said. "They don't consider themselves out of any game. We were down by nine or 10 against Midwestern and our demeanor never changed in the game. We continued to be the same team. Knowing that we have that poise and the mindset that we are never out of it, it shows a lot for our team, especially on the road. I feel good about our team coming back home now and getting some conference games under our belts."
 
The Lions will now host Eastern New Mexico, the defending regular season LSC champions, under 2016-17 Coach of the Year Josh Prock. Burton knows that the Greyhounds will present a tough challenge to his team.
 
"Coach Prock is a good friend," Burton said. "He is one of the coaches in the conference that is able to adjust to any team he plays. He does a great job scouting. We have to come in on Thursday and really be prepared for anything. I think he is going to do a good job of changing up the defenses. He is going to try and do whatever it takes to make us feel uncomfortable. The thing we have to do is make sure we stay poised, don't turn the ball over, that we don't rush our shots and that we are patient. We have to continue to do what we do, get the ball into the paint, do a good job on the boards."
 
Thursday's game will be a part of Education Day on the A&M-Commerce campus. Burton is excited to see the young fans and knows they will have a big impact on the game.
 
"We had Education Day last year and it was our game against Cameron," he said. "Last year, we were down 20 at halftime. We came out in the second half and you need a spark to get you going and those kids filled our gym up and they were loud. It was a great atmosphere. And it is a good time for them too because they get a chance to meet our young ladies and get a chance to learn about what it takes to go to college."
 
The Lions will then host Western New Mexico on Saturday on a busy day for Lion Athletics. Burton is excited for the atmosphere he knows will be on campus for the two basketball games, plus the NCAA playoff football game.
 
"Colby Carthel has done an amazing job," Burton said. "The football staff and the players have done a great job. To bring that national spotlight to Commerce, Texas and to be in the national semifinal and to have a chance to host that, it is going to be a great atmosphere. I'm glad we get to go at 11 so we can go watch the game. Hopefully we get to go into that game 2-0 on the week and have a chance to witness history."