LAWTON, Okla. -- The Aggie women's basketball team looks to continue their Lone Star Conference homestand this week as they host Western New Mexico on Thursday and UT Permian Basin on Saturday.
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THURSDAY: Western New Mexico at Cameron | Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. | Aggie Gym
SATURDAY: UT Permian Basin at Cameron | Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. | Aggie Gym
Starting 5:
1. Junior guard
Ava Battese tied the program record for three pointers made in a game last Thursday with eight against Tarleton State; she now needs just four more three pointers to break the Cameron career record.
2. Battese leads an Aggie team that ranks third in Division I in three-point field goals made per game (10.3) and sixth in three pointers made (134) and attempted (383).
3. Western New Mexico is first in the Lone Star Conference and ninth nationally in three point defense, holding the opposition to shooting just 25.3 percent from behind the arc.
4. Two weeks ago, UTPB's Juliette Akinwole was named the LSC's Defensive Player of the Week after grabbing 12 rebounds and collecting five steals against Texas A&M-International.
5. Both WNMU and UTPB are averaging less than 60 points per game, ranking in the bottom three in scoring in the LSC; the Falcons have scored more than 60 points in a game just three times this season and the Mustangs have done it five times.
About the Aggies:
The Aggies are now 4-8 after splitting last week's games against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce. Against TSU, Battese led CU with 27 points on 9-15 shooting from the floor, 8-13 from three, while
Maighan Hedge chipped in 21 points. The team as a whole, went 14-32 from the perimeter. In the game against the Lions, Cameron struggled to get going offensively, shooting under 40 percent from the field and going 6-24 from three;
Parfitt McNair scored 17 points to lead CU, while Hedge added 11 and Battese had 10.
The Black and Gold is averaging 70.7 points per game, while giving up 79.1 to their opposition. They are shooting 39.5 percent from the floor, 35.1 percent from three, and 65.6 percent from the charity stripe. CU does well on the boards by grabbing 40.2 rebounds per outing, but struggles with ball control, turning it over at a 19.3 clip with just 12.6 assists. Additionally, the record 6.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.
Individually, Hedge leads the team with 15.0 points per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 44.6 percent from three. She also leads the team with an average of 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals.
Natalie Halbleib is second on the squad with 12.7 points per game and averages 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals, while Battese is averaging 11.0 points on the season.
Scouting the Mustangs:
Western New Mexico is 5-6 heading into their contest with the Aggies, and have gone 1-3 in LSC games. The are coming off of back-to-back losses against Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M. They average 56.5 points while shooting 38.1 percent from the field, 28.5 percent from three, and 67.7 percent from the charity stripe. Sara Lopez averages 10.4 points per game, while Cassandra Vickery chips in 10.2.
The Series Against WNMU:
Cameron leads the all-time series against the Mustangs 4-1, winning all four of the matchups the past two seasons. Last time out, CU won 67-55 in Silver City behind a 49.1 percent shooting night. The Aggies had 10 steals and forced 17 turnovers, as Battese recorded 10 points and
Lejha Smith added nine points and seven rebounds. Ciara Fields led the way for the Mustangs with 20 points.
Scouting the Falcons:
UT Permian Basin enters the week with a 3-9 overall record and an 0-4 league mark. They are coming off of a pair of losses against West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. With a scoring margin of -8.7 points, the Falcons are averaging 54.6 points per game, shooting 35.7 percent from the floor, 28.9 percent from three, and 68.2 percent from the foul line. They are averaging 32.5 rebounds and 10.2 assists, to go along with 9.9 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest. Khali Pippins-Tryon leads the squad with 11.4 points per game and averages 4.6 rebounds while recording 25 steals on the season. Additionally, Akinwole leads the team with six rebounds per game.
The Series Against UTPB:
The Aggies are up 5-1 in the all-time series against the Falcons. Their only loss against UTPB came back in 2011 in Odessa, Texas. Last year, CU won both matchups by a comfortable margin including the latter being a 66-54 win at home. McNair led CU with 21 points, while Battese had 12 points on four three pointers and Smith had 14 rebounds. Pippins-Tryon led the Falcons with 13 points.
Next Up:
Cameron will wrap up their home stretch with a battle against Red River Rival Midwestern State University of Texas on Tuesday, Jan. 15 starting at 5:30 p.m.
