GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team will face Colorado Mesa in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Tournament. The Lions qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (20-10, 14-6 LSC) vs. Colorado Mesa (26-3, 20-2 RMAC)
WHERE: Brownson Arena in Grand Junction, Colo.
WHEN: Friday, Mar. 15 at 6 p.m. MDT (7 p.m. CDT)
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cmumavericks/
LIVE AUDIO: http://www.lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions are coming off of a second round exit in the LSC Tournament. The Lions were able to defeat Eastern New Mexico in the first round and played very well defensively against WT in the second round. Head coach Jason Burton was proud of the way his team played.
 
"We did a good job of executing the game plan on both days," he said. "I thought that we came out of the gate against Eastern and we knew it was going to be a tough battle. But I'm glad we had the chance to jump out ahead and control the game. We knew Eastern would make a run, and they did. But we kept our poise and found a way to close out the game against a really good Eastern New Mexico team, who is also in the regional tournament.
 
"Then the next day you turn around and play West Texas, who is the No. 1 seed in the region, and we played a really good defensive game. I thought we guarded. You look up and we held them to 26 points in the first half. You just hope you shoot the ball a little bit better. We had some tired legs and shots just didn't fall. But for the most part, I loved our energy. I loved how we guarded. I loved how we followed the game plan. The shots just didn't go our way."
 
The Lions received welcome news on Sunday night as the team qualified for its second ever NCAA Tournament. After five years at the helm of the program, Burton was ecstatic to see his team in the NCAA Tournament.
 
"It has been a fun last few weeks," he said. "We were on the bubble and I thought we put ourselves in position to control our own destiny. In that first round game, we kind of knew with the way it was shaping up in the other conferences in our region, that if we won that game, we'd get in. It was fun to see the intensity and the focus that our players played with. It means so much to get into the NCAA Tournament, especially for Princess Davis. It has been five years, it has been a long time coming."
 
Burton was quick to thank all the former players, coaches and administrators who had been a part of the team before this year. He knows the foundation was laid in previous years.
 
"There have been a lot of players in this program and a lot of coaches in this program that have helped us get to this point. And we don't get to this point if it weren't for them. I want to thank everyone who has been associated with A&M-Commerce Women's Basketball. And also a big thanks to our administration and all the fans that have supported throughout the years. This is because of them and for all the hard work that has been put in the last five years. Now that we are here, it is time to make a run."
 
The Lions will open their NCAA Tournament appearance against second seed Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship. With a split regional field this year, the Lions will face CMU on its home floor. Burton looks forward to battling against an RMAC team on its home floor.
 
"First of all, we are just glad not to be playing against an LSC team," Burton said. "To have five teams in the Lone Star Conference in an eight-team regional, you have a strong chance to match up with someone you have played recently. We are excited to play someone outside of our conference. Even if it is in their gym. I think that actually benefits us because they are going to have fans there. I think it is going to be a fun environment. I think that will motivate our team to play hard.
 
"I think we are looking forward to that. They are a team that has been really good defensively. They are holding their opponents to 50 points a game. They have the RMAC Player of the Year. They are a team that likes to execute in the half court. They do a really good job of running their sets and they are good in transition. Defensively, they are a man-to-man team. They have played that pretty much the entire year. And we have been really good against man-to-man this year. It is going to be fun to get back to playing against a team that runs man-to-man defense. And its just exciting to play somebody new. I think we are excited to get on a plane, to fly out and be a part of this NCAA Tournament."

With the final two weeks of the season on the horizon, win or lose, Burton has one message for his team.
 
"Have fun," he said. "This is going to Princess Davis and Kate Zhibereva's last few games. I want to make sure they go out having fun. They are going to be prepared. They are going to work hard. I want them to enjoy this process, enjoy the trip, enjoy the preparation. And I want them to leave all they have on the floor."