COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team will open up its conference season with two home games this week. The Lions host Angelo State on Thursday and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday.
 
Angelo State – Education Day presented by Alliance Bank
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (3-3, 0-0 LSC) vs. Angelo State (2-0, 0-0 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (2-3, 0-0 LSC)
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions are coming off of a come-from-behind road win against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday. Head coach Jason Burton liked the way his team fought through some early-game adversity to get the win.
 
"I liked our resolve on the road," Burton said. "We got down in that first quarter but we won every quarter after that. It is a tough place to play. We changed our style of play a little in that second half. Late in the third quarter we went with an all guard lineup and we played really well with that. That is the first time we have had a chance to do that. Our girls responded. They shot the ball well in that fourth quarter. To do that on the road is tough to do, especially the Sunday after Thanksgiving."
 
After having a couple games of low shooting percentages, Burton liked the way his team was able to score efficiently. He also liked the way his point guard was able to create for herself and others.
 
"We finally shot the ball well, and some of that had to do with the lineup," he said. "We put more shooters on the floor and I thought Princess, who had a career-high in assists- did a really good job of driving in the paint and finding shooters. And our girls stepped up and knocked in some big shots. It was a good win on the road."
 
The Lions will now open up their conference season. The team they will play first is Angelo State, the conference's co-champion from a season ago. The Rambelles return both the LSC Player of the Year and the LSC Defensive Player of the Year. Burton knows it will be a tough opener but is confident his team will be up to the challenge.
 
"There is not an easy game in the Lone Star Conference," Burton said. "Opening up against Angelo State, you are tested right out of the gate. They have the returning Player of the Year. She is a dynamic point guard that is good in transition. She is the head of the snake. Our job is to stop her early on. She makes her teammates so much better by getting to the paint and creating open shots for her teammates. Then Moore is such a presence on defense. She is a big body in the paint. She alters shots and makes things tough in the paint."
 
With a team full of newcomers, Burton used the early part of the season to use different lineups and put players in different situations to learn how his team could play. Now six games in, he feels the team has found some cohesion and has figured out how to play together. He hopes this will lead to another good conference season.
 
"The fortunate thing for us is we did a good job with our non-conference schedule and with our exhibition with Baylor of preparing ourselves for what we are going to see in the Lone Star Conference," Burton said. "Lubbock Christian, Baylor, Pueblo, you look down the line at all the teams we have played and the different styles of play that we have played against, I think we are ready for anything we will see."
 
The Lions will tip off at 1 p.m. as part of Education Day, presented by Alliance Bank. Burton has enjoyed two previous Education Days. In the first one two years ago, the team played in a down-to-the-wire win against Cameron. Last season, the Lions defeated Eastern New Mexico in overtime. Burton looks forward to the tradition of filling the Field House with local ISD students.
 
"There is nothing better," he said. "I am always hoarse on Friday because the gym is so loud, you don't realize how loud you have to talk for the players to hear you. The kids bring so much energy. It is always a fun game. It is always a packed house. If you have a chance to come out, come check it out because it is a fun time to be in the gym. It is the first game of the Lone Star Conference season. There is nothing better than that."
 
Tickets for the doubleheader are available at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756 or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House. The Lion men's team will tip off against ASU at 11 a.m. The women's game will immediately follow the conclusion of the men's game.