COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team will head out on the road this week for two conference matchups. The Lions face Tarleton on Tuesday and Texas Woman's on Thursday.
 
Tarleton State
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (15-7, 10-4 LSC) vs. Tarleton State (16-6, 9-5 LSC)
WHERE: Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: https://tarletonsports.com/showcase?Live=1263
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE AUDIO: ketr.org
 
Texas Woman's
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Texas Woman's (9-13, 6-8 LSC)
WHERE: Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/twupioneers/
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
 
The Lion are coming off of two strong home performances last week. They defeated Cameron on Thursday 91-58 and then beat MSU Texas 73-61. Head coach Jason Burton loved the way his team bounced back after a road loss.
 
"Our team did a good job last week of getting inside, and our posts finished," he said. "I thought this was the best game collectively that both Kate [Zhibareva] and Alexis [Bryant] really played well. When you have those two playing inside like they were this weekend, it's good. Our guard play has been tremendous all year. But when you have them both clicking like that, and have Agang Tac coming off the bench, she was really good as well. It was two really good games in terms of a complete team effort. We have to carry that on the road tomorrow."
 
Burton loved the play he got from his front court and praised the play of Ekaterina Zhibareva and Alexis Bryant. The duo combined for 61 points and 25 rebounds over two games, while shooting 59 percent from the field. Zhibareva shot 73 percent from the field while Bryant got to the foul line 15 times and converted at 80 percent. Burton knows if he can get this play from his bigs, the team will be in good shape.
 
"It's not just that they were scoring the ball, they were scoring efficiently," he said of Zhibareva and Bryant. "When they are doing that, with the way our guards have been shooting all year, if teams have to account for both of our bigs inside, it makes it tough. You can't double team a post when you have guards shooting the way our guards are capable of shooting it. We have to have that finishing effort from those two. When we get clicking on all cylinders and when we get into March, this team is going to be special. I'm really looking forward to that."
 
During the first quarter of the MSU game, Princess Davis became the program's all-time minutes leader. It was one of several milestones Davis has reached this season. Burton is enjoying seeing his senior point guard continue to climb the leader boards.
 
"This has been a special season," he said. "It has just been special being a part of it and to have been able to coach her the last five years. With all her hard work, her legacy is being cemented with every game we play. She is number one in games started, number one in minutes played and number two in assists with a chance to become the all-time assist leader. And she is not chasing any stats. She is just trying to win games. The most important thing to her right now for her legacy is to make the NCAA Tournament. She is doing whatever she can to help lead this team to the post season. With her doing that, she will continue to play at a high level and continue to break records."
 
The Lions now head out on the road, beginning Tuesday against Tarleton. The Lions defeated TSU by nine on their home floor early in January. Burton is looking forward to another tough matchup and knows it will be a tough task, especially on the road in Stephenville.
 
"Tarleton is a really good ball club," he said. "They have some really talented players, led by three seniors. And the thing about that team is they are really strong at home. They have one loss at home. They are a well-coached team that plays together. They play hard, they play smart, they try to get you out of your comfort zone. But I think that the way our team is playing, they are playing with a lot confidence. That is something we have to take on the road with us."
 
The Lions will then face Texas Woman's on Thursday. With four of the final six games being played on the road, Burton knows the team will have to do things correctly and play the way they have at home if they want to get to where they want to be.
 
"The X factor that has been good for us lately is how much we are talking and how much energy we are bringing on the floor and on the bench. Those little things are signs of winning programs. That is something we need to be doing. We have four of our last six games on the road and that is something we need to bring on the road with us. If we do that, I think our team can beat anybody. It's just a matter of preparing the way we have been. Our girls have been really locked in. That is going to be big preparing to face two really good teams this week."