COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team will host the Lone Star Conference leaders in Eastern New Mexico on Saturday. The game will be a rematch of a December game that found the Greyhounds coming out on top of the Lions 75-64.
The game will be part of Alumni Day and past Lions will be present to be honored in a ceremony held in between the men's and women's games on Saturday. This will include special recognition of past Elite 8 teams.
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (15-6, 9-4 LSC) vs. Eastern New Mexico (16-4, 12-1 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS: http://statb.us/b/147061
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tamucommerce/
LIVE AUDIO: www.ketr.org
TICKETS: http://lionathletics.com/sports/2016/11/18/2016-17-basketball-ticket-information.aspx
The Lions are coming off of a 92-65 win over Western New Mexico. In the game, A&M-Commerce was able to score 54 points in the paint, something head coach
Jason Burton really liked. He also liked how he was able to get every player on his active roster into the game.
"Our points in the paint were incredible," Burton said. "We did a great job of getting the ball in the paint and we finished. We either got a score or got to the free throw line. I definitely applaud our girls on that. The good thing was everybody got to play. I thought our bench stepped up and did an incredible job. We had 40-plus points off of the bench. Everybody got in and we got a chance to rest some people."
The Lions had 23 assists on their 34 made baskets, their second-highest assist total of the season. Burton enjoys coaching an unselfish team that is full of team-first players that just want to achieve victory.
"We didn't care who scored," he said. "Our team really celebrates each other's successes. They have a mentality where they don't care who gets the points. They just want to win the game. Last night was one of those nights where shots went in. Before, we did a good job of creating shots for others, but shots didn't always fall. Last night, shots went in."
The Lions now face a stiff test with Eastern New Mexico, the conference leader, coming in to town. A&M-Commerce lost 75-64 in the first matchup of the season, in part due to a 22 percent shooting night that saw the Lions dish out just four assists. Burton knows his team will need to have good ball movement against the Greyhounds. He also knows that ENMU will look to spread the ball around as well.
"Watching them on film, they have the same mentality as us," Burton said. "They don't care who scores. They look to find great shots on possessions. That's what makes them so good is that they have so many weapons over there. So many of their players can shoot the ball. You really have to guard all over the floor. You really can't sag off of anybody."
ENMU was picked to finish in seventh in the preseason poll but has put together a strong campaign, winning 12 of 13 conference games so far. Burton is impressed with the Greyhounds and the team they have put together.
"Coach Prock has done an outstanding job all year," he said. "He is a really good coach and he has done a fantastic job. He has got his team playing really confident right now."
Burton said his team will need to defend at a high level if they want to even the season series with ENMU. He is confident his team will be up to the challenge.
"Tomorrow is going to be one of those days where we are going to have to be in tune to everything," he said. "We can't have any game slippage. We have to make sure we are talking and communicating. We are going to have to play at a high level tomorrow to win the game."
