LSC Basketball Weekly Release: Full slate of league games on tap - Lone Star Conference Skip To Main Content
Tarleton's Kiara Wright and ACU's Kendall Durant
Tarleton's Kiara Wright and ACU's Kendall Durant

Men's Basketball

LSC Basketball Weekly Release: Full slate of league games on tap

Lone Star Conference teams return to league play after non-conference action over the Holidays.  Games to watch this week include the West Texas A&M at Tarleton State doubleheader on Jan. 7.
    On the men’s side, three teams are undefeated in LSC action with Midwestern State at 5-0, West Texas A&M (4-0) and Tarleton State (3-0).  WTAMU (5-0) and Tarleton (4-0) remain perfect in the women’s standings.
    The top eight men’s and eight women’s teams will qualify for the championship to be played Feb. 29 - March 4 in Allen, Texas.  The postseason tournament will decide the tournament champion and the LSC’s automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament.
    The LSC men have a 78-42 overall record so far this season.  MSU is the lone unbeaten team at 10-0, with two other squads (WTAMU and Tarleton) having just one loss.  In the NCAA South Central Region, the men’s teams are currently 28-13 overall including 16-12 combined versus Heartland Conference teams, 8-1 opposed to the Great American Conference and 4-1 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
    The LSC women are 60-61 overall, with Cameron at 8-2 with the best record. In the NCAA South Central Region, the women’s teams are currently 27-19 overall including 17-11 combined versus Heartland teams, 9-5 opposed to the Great American and 1-3 against the MIAA.

FAST BREAK

  • Texas Woman’s Cambria Smith tops the nation in assists with 8.8 per game (statistics through games 12/18).
  • Midwestern State is one of eight Division II teams with a perfect won-loss record at 11-0, which ties its third-best start in school history.
     
  • Click here for the complete release

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Kendall Durant, Abilene Christian University, JR, Guard, Washington, D.C., Fairmont Heights HS
Durant helped Abilene Christian snap a four-game losing streak with 22 points in an 85-82 win over Dallas Baptist Friday night. The Wildcats – who trailed 39-31 at halftime – opened the second half on a 9-0 run that was keyed by Durant’s back-to-back 3-pointers, and one from Antonio Bell that gave ACU its first lead at 40-39 with 18:31 left in the game. Durant additionally made 6-of-7 second-half free throws, including two with five seconds remaining that pushed ACU’s lead to 85-82. DBU missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wildcats the win.

MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Eric Milam, Abilene Christian University, JR, Center, Webster, Texas, Clear Brook HS
Milam’s inspired defensive play early in the second half against Dallas Baptist helped Abilene Christian quickly erase a 39-31 halftime deficit. Within the first two minutes of the second half, Milam pulled down a defensive rebound and stole two passes - all of which directly led to nine ACU points on three 3-pointers. Milam then blocked a Jordan Fox jumper and later hit both free throws that extended ACU’s lead to six points with 6:51 remaining. ACU went on to win the game, 85-82.

WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Renata Marquez, Abilene Christian University, SO, Forward, Conroe, Texas, Willis HS
Marquez turned in a pair of double-doubles for Abilene Christian during its 2-0 trip to Canyon, Texas last weekend for the West Texas Golf Cars Lady Buff Holiday Classic. Marquez contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats in their 70-66 triumph over 2011 NCAA Division II semifinalist Shaw and added 19 points with 12 rebounds the following night in a 64-57 victory against Southwestern Oklahoma. Marquez hit 8 of 17 shots from the floor against the Lady Bulldogs to lead the ACU offense. Marquez’ double-doubles were her second and third of the season and her first since opening night at A&M-International. She has scored in double figures in six of her last seven games.

WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Kiara Wright, Tarleton State University, SO, Center, Pittsburg, Texas, Pittsburg HS
Wright was at the center of the defense which shutdown a potent offensive attack of, then, 8-1 McMurry. The Warhawks came into the game averaging over 70 points per game and shooting nearly 40-percent from the field. Wright and the TexAnns held McMurry to just 39 points and 29-percent from the floor. In the effort, the sophomore recorded her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds while also tying a career-high with four steals.