COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team returns to Lone Star Conference action with two games over the weekend. The Lions will host Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Thursday and Angelo State on Saturday.
 
A&M-Kingsville
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (6-5, 3-1 LSC) vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-9, 0-4 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
Angelo State
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Angelo State (8-2, 3-1 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions came back from the holiday break to face UT San Antonio on Dec. 29. The Lions led by as many as 19 against the Division I Roadrunners and never trailed in the game. While the game does not count in the standings for the Lions, head coach Jason Burton knows the result was a big one.
 
"We played a Division I right before Christmas against Stephen F. Austin and then played St. Mary's and we lost both of those games," he said. "Even though SFA was an exhibition game, we talked about never wanting to lose three games in a row. Whether it counted against our record or not, it was a big game for us.
 
"We talked about playing 40 minutes. That has been our struggle. We jumped out to a big lead against St. Mary's, 15-0, and we kind of coasted. We let our guard down and stopped being aggressive. In the games we have lost, we have kind of done that, not played a complete game. I really feel like, besides about three minutes of that third quarter against UTSA, we really played a great game and a complete game."
 
Burton sees the result as the template his team needs to follow to be successful in conference play. He knows if his team plays up to its potential for a complete game, they can hang their hat with anyone in the league.
 
"When you talk what it is going to take in the Lone Star Conference, no matter who we play, we are going to have to play 40 minutes," he said. "I'm really proud of our team to be able to do that and withstand their runs. UTSA went on a run in the fourth quarter and cut the lead down to four. And we bounced back. We continued to play the whole game. We had an injury late in the game. One of our starters went down and another fouled out. We had players come off the bench in a critical time in the game and there was no drop off. To do that and to do that against a high-level opponent, it gives us a lot of confidence going into this week."
 
The Lions now look to face A&M-Kingsville on Thursday. The Javelinas look to be struggling with a 3-9 record and an 0-4 conference record, but Burton knows the team will be ready to play and hungry for a win. Burton had to look no farther than last season, when a similar team came in and beat the Lions on a buzzer beater.
 
"They have had close games in the Lone Star Conference, they just haven't pulled away and gotten that win," he said. "The thing is they play so hard. They make plays happen. They keep the game close. It is usually a low-scoring game with the teams they are playing against. We have to make sure we come out focused and play a complete game like we did against UTSA. There can't be any drop off."
 
The Lions will then face Angelo State. The Rambelles are currently tied with the Lions in the standings. Coach Burton knows the game could be a key game in the conference standings late in the season. He also sees a very talented team who just returned one of its best players from injury.
 
"Looking at Angelo, they just got one of their better players back," Burton said. "She has only played two games for them so far. She is a Division I transfer from New Mexico that can really play. They are big inside. They have a 6'4" who can really play. They have people averaging double figures. They are a talented team."
 
The teams split their games last season before ASU went on to the final round of the of the Regional Tournament. The team has not had any drop off with a new head coach and Burton knows another talented team from San Angelo is coming to Commerce.
 
"The thing we have to do is to continue to play poised," Burton said of how his team will need to play in both games. "We have played really talented teams. We have played UTSA, who I think is very talented. We have played UT-Arlington in a scrimmage before the season, we have played Lubbock Christian. We have played some really good teams and we know we can play in those games. It is just a matter of sticking to the game plan, making sure we are low turnover and staying in attack mode. When we have been aggressive, we have been a really good team and a tough team to play against."