COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball begin a two-game home stand this week on Tuesday, welcoming Southern Utah, a 2023 NCAA Tournament participant. 
 
WHO: Southern Utah at A&M-Commerce
WHERE: Commerce | Field House
WHEN: Tuesday, December 5 | 6:30 p.m.
RECORDS: A&M-Commerce is 4-3 on the season, while Southern Utah is 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in WAC play. 
RANKINGS: Neither team is nationally ranked, but the Lions are ranked No. 242 in the first NCAA NET Rankings, while the Thunderbirds are No. 194.  
  LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/eventCalendarId/401594910
LIVE STATS: https://statb.us/b/493098
GAME NOTES: TAMUC | SUU
TICKETS: LionAthletics.com/Tickets

SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS
• Southern Utah is 2-4 on the season, having played five of the six regular season games at home. The Thunderbirds went to the NCAA Tournament last season and are already 1-1 in WAC play this season, having won over Seattle U. at home, which is their only win over a Division I opponent this season.
• The Thunderbirds are shooting 42.7 from the field this season, scoring 70.2 points per game. Last season, Southern Utah won 71-56 at home over A&M-Commerce.
• Megan Smith is scoring 15.3 points per game, while Daylani Ballena is scoring 15.2.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE LIONS
• Mia Deck delivered the game-winner for the Lions on Friday night to beat Idaho, which was A&M-Commerce's first non-conference road win in the Division I era. Deck was named the Southland Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
• The Lions are 4-3 on the season, having recorded two wins over Division I teams so far this season. Both the four non-conference wins and two non-conference Division I wins are more than last season. In the first net rankings, A&M-Commerce is No. 242.
• This week, the Lions welcome two teams that both competed in the postseason last year, welcoming Houston on Friday, which is the first Power Five opponent in history.
 
BRAND NEW WATERS
• The Lions are in the second season in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference.
• This is the first time the Lions are changing conferences in program history.
• A&M-Commerce is eligible for the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.

DECK DELIVERS THE GAME-WINNER
• Mia Deck scored the game-winning layup with less than 10 seconds left at Idaho on Friday.
• She was named the Southland Player of the Week, having led the team in scoring both games of the week.
• She has a double-double in each of the last two double-doubles.

HOT FROM DEEP
• The Lions have made double-double triples in three games, including 14 three-pointers twice in a game, which is tied for second in school history. They also lead the Southland in three-pointers made.

UNPRECENTED START TO THE SEASON
• Entering Tuesday, the Lions are 4-3 on the season.
• The four wins are most in conference play during the Division I era.
• The Lions have two wins over NCAA Division I opponents in non-conference play, which also surpasses last season's mark.
• In the first net rankings, the Lions are No. 242.

LIONS' RAIN THREES TO BEAT TRAILBLAZERS
• Despite trailing by double-digits in the first half, the Lions shot 14 three pointers to pick up the win.
• The win snapped a two-game losing streak and is the first win over a Division I team this season.
• Both Mary Delgado and Ahmya Boyce scored 19 in the game, with Boyce hitting six three pointers.

SLOW START DOOMS LIONS AT TECH
• Texas Tech scored the first 29 points of the game in Lubbock.
• It is the first time since women's basketball went to quarters that the Lions were held without a basket in a quarter, being scoreless in the first quarter.

JUST FELL SHORT OF THE LOBOS
• Mia Deck's shot just fell short at the New Mexico in the 75-74 loss to the Lobos.
• The win for A&M-Commerce would have been the second over a Division I non-conference opponent and first on the road.
 
STARTED ON A HIGH NOTE
• The Lions' 2-0 to start the season was the fourth in the last five years and for the first time in the Division I era.
• By beating LeTourneau, the Lions have won their season opener for the fifth straight season.
• The Lions last lost in the season-opening game to start the 2018-19 season.
 
A NEW ERA
• Valerie King takes over as the Lions' coach this season, she was previously an assistant coach at New Mexico.
• This is the first season since 2013-14, that the Lions have a new coach.
• King is joined on the bench by assistant coaches: Tad Wedel, Brechelle Beachum, Trevor Moyer, and Jaedyn De La Cerda.
 
NEWSOME SHINES IN DEBUT
• Jordyn Newsome made her mark in Lion Country with a 24-point performance in her Lion debut.
• She knocked down six three pointers as well in her first game inside the Field House.
• She leads the team in scoring and is second in the SLC.

DELGADO BOOSTS OFF THE BENCH
• Mary Delgado has come off the bench for all but the Idaho game, but is second on the team in scoring and third in the Southland.
 
PLENTY OF NEW FACES
• This season, the Lions bring back just seven players from last season, and welcome seven newcomers for the 14-person roster.
• Of the seven newcomers, three are true freshmen, while the rest are transfers.
• The Lion freshmen hail from Austria, Spain and Texas, while among the transfers, two are from the junior college ranks and two are from fellow NCAA Division I schools, both from the Sun Belt.
 
PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST
• A&M-Commerce faces four major conference opponents in the non-conference portion of the schedule.
• The Lions played at Texas Tech on Friday, are at Washington State on November 29, host Houston on December 8, and at Texas A&M on December 31.
• This season, the Lions face three teams that played in the NCAA Tournament, while playing two that played in the NIT.
 
SUCCESS IN THE POSTSEASON
• The Lions' run in the Southland Conference tournament ended in the semifinals last season, ending a run of three straight championship game appearances.
• The game against Southeastern was the fifth consecutive season the Lions were playing in the conference tournament semifinals.
• A&M-Commerce has won two postseason games for each of the last three seasons and won three the last two years. 
 
HISTORIC START TO CONFERENCE PLAY
• For the first time since 2019-20, the Lions started 6-0 in conference play, last year. 
• That season, the Lions advanced all the way to the conference tournament championship game and made the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
FIRST DI ROAD WIN
• The win at McNeese was the first road win for the Lions away from the Field House as a Division I member, they were 0-7 in true road games and 0-9 in games away from home prior to that.
 
AMONG THE BEST IN THE SLC
• The Lions finished the regular season first in the conferenece in scoring (65.4), second in rebounding (38.7).
 
A RARE FEAT IN STARKVILLE
• Despite the lopsided loss against Mississippi State last season, the Lions had an impressive effort on the road.
• Coming into the game, the Bulldogs were allowing 50.3 points per game, which was seventh in the country. The Lions scored 53 points.
 
ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE
• The Lions ended their Division II era with four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and won a NCAA Tournament game in each of the last two seasons.
• A&M-Commerce has five postseason appearances in program history, with four coming in the last four seasons.
• The Lions were ranked as high as No. 1 in the D2SIDA rankings and No. 2 in the WBCA rankings last season.