The action heats up as divisional play begins this week with a full slate of games on Wednesday and Saturday.  These games will determine which 16 teams, eight on both the men's and women's side, qualify for the Lone Star Conference Championship to be held in Bartlesville, Okla., March 3-7.

Midwestern State improved to 14-0 and remains the lone undefeated Lone Star Conference basketball team.  

The LSC men have a 121-81 overall record so far this season, including a 65-36 mark in the South Division and 56-45 in the North.  In league crossover play the South has the advantage, 26-22.  In the NCAA South Central Region, the men's teams are currently 24-10 combined versus Heartland Conference teams and 3-2 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

The LSC women are 119-86 overall, with a 68-34 mark in the South and 51-52 in the North this season.  In league crossover action, the South Division holds a 37-18 record over its North opponents.  In the NCAA South Central Region, the women's teams are currently 25-10 combined versus Heartland Conference squads and 5-4 against the MIAA.

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In men's games played last week, the LSC had one player score more than 30 points, 14 over the 20-point mark and 10 double-digit rebounders, while seven recorded double-doubles.  
    Points, Men: 31, LaMarshall Corbett, ASU at ECU
    Rebounds, Men: 20, Curtis Nickson, SWOSU vs TAMUK
    Assists, Men: 8, Three players
    Steals, Men: 5, Shane Carroll, UCO vs WTAMU

On the women's side, the league had one player score over 30 points, 13 score more than 20 points and nine double-digit rebounders, while eight posted double-doubles in action last week. Top performances included:
    Points, Women: 32, Jamie Simmons, WTAMU at UCO
    Rebounds, Women: 16, Jamie Meyer, ACU at ECU
    Assists, Women: 10, Kat Kundmueller, ACU at ECU
    Steals, Women: 6, Two players

Players of the Week
NORTH MEN'S OFFENSIVE
Curtis Nickson, Southwestern Oklahoma, Jr., C, Boligee, Ala./Mississippi Gulf Coast
Nickson became the LSC's first male player to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in the same game this season in SWOSU's 62-58 overtime victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville. Nickson's rebound total was the highest in the league this season bettering the mark of 19 set by Cameron's Kalan Glasgow against Angelo State. The 20 rebounds is the highest by a SWOSU player since Eli Parnell had 21 in a 1973 game against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
    
NORTH MEN'S DEFENSIVE
William Slones, Southeastern Oklahoma, Sr., C, Orlando, Fla./Maynard Evans HS
Slones continued to show his dominant shot-blocking skills, averaging 6.0 blocks for the week.  He was consistent, stopping seven shots against Abilene Christian in an overtime win, and coming back two-nights later with five swats in a one-point loss to Angelo State.  He also chipped in 6.5 rebounds per outing and 9.5 points to go along with three steals for the week.
   
SOUTH MEN'S OFFENSIVE
Devon Hills, Tarleton State, Jr., G, Chico, Calif./Pleasant Valley HS   
In the only Texans' game of the week, Devon Hills had 24 points to lead all scorers as Tarleton won its seventh straight game.  Hills was six-of-10 from the floor while he hit 11-of-11 from the charity stripe.  Hills also had two rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals.  With the Texans up four at the break, Hills hit the first jumper and a three in the first 1:30 of the second half to give the Texans a nine-point advantage. 

SOUTH MEN'S DEFENSIVE
Johnny Barnes, Angelo State, Sr., F, Astoria, N.Y./Bryant H.S.   
Barnes averaged 12.5 rebounds per game in addition to a pair of blocks and steals per outing as the Rams were a perfect 2-0 on their Oklahoma road swing last week. After being part of one of the highest-scoring games in school history Thursday, Barnes was key in a solid defensive outing Saturday in a 71-70 win at Southeastern Oklahoma. Barnes had a team-high nine rebounds while adding four steals and three blocked shots.

NORTH WOMEN'S OFFENSIVE
Kacey Russell, Southeastern Oklahoma, Sr., G, Crandall, Texas/Crandall HS
Russell provided a spark for Southeastern in a pair of narrow losses to Abilene Christian and Angelo State.  Russell averaged 16.5 ppg and 5.0 assists per game, all while playing very efficiently.  She shot 50.0 percent from the field, and was better from the lines, hitting 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the charity stripe and 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from three-point range.  She turned in her second 20-point outing of the season against ACU.

NORTH WOMEN'S DEFENSIVE
No nominations.

SOUTH WOMEN'S OFFENSIVE
Jamie Meyer, Abilene Christian, Sr., F, Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock
Meyer led the Wildcats in scoring with two 20-plus efforts last week which put her over the 1,000 point mark for her career.  She had 20 points and nine rebounds in a 91-87 win over Southeastern Oklahoma and recorded 23 points with 16 boards in a 72-65 victory at East Central for her fourth double-double of the season.  Meyer is averaging 21.2 points per game, which ranks sixth in the nation in scoring.

SOUTH WOMEN'S DEFENSIVE
Jamie Simmons, West Texas A&M, So., Forward, Houston, Texas
Simmons was rock solid in the Lady Buffs final two crossover matches against tough LSC North opponents Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma. Defensively, Simmons pulled down a team-leading 13 defensive boards. She also led the team in blocks with four and grabbed four steals. On the offensive side, she shot 58.3 percent with 14 buckets in 24 attempts from the field. She also knocked down two treys and 13 free throws at a 61.9 percent shooting clip. She averaged a double-double in the two games with 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Against Central Oklahoma, Simmons posted incredible numbers, scoring a career high 32 points and 11 rebounds along with four blocks in the win.