Seven Lone Star Conference women’s basketball teams went unbeaten in the final week of the regular season. UAFS went 2-0 and picked up a win over No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce to end the year. Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico, Lubbock Christian, Tarleton and West Texas A&M all picked up multiple wins while St. Edward’s went 1-0 with a thrilling overtime win on Saturday.
LSC women’s basketball teams are 257-231 overall this season and 20-11 against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, the other league in the NCAA South Central Region.
LSC schedule and results available here:
https://lonestarconference.org/calendar.aspx?path=wbball&
LSC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The LSC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship is set for March 3-5-6-7-8, 2020 with the opening round on campus (March 3), and the final eight teams at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas on Thursday-Sunday, March 5-8. The top 12 men’s and women’s teams will qualify with seeding based on the conference standings (22 games). The divisional champions will automatically qualify and be seeded using the conference standings.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Hannah Boyett, UAFS, FR, Biology, G, Muldrow, Okla., Muldrow HS
Boyett carried UAFS in a huge weekend as the Lady Lions defeated UT Tyler and No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce. Boyett shot .434 percent from beyond the arc on 10-of-23 shooting to average 17 points per contest. The freshman hit three crucial triples in the second half that helped stave off a Lion rally as part of her team-high 16 points on the night. Boyett also added 2.5 rebounds per game as well as five assists and two steals on the weekend.
DEFENSIVE
Tamera Gulley, UAFS, SR, Criminal Justice, F, Richmond, Texas, Fort Bend Bush HS
Gulley had an outstanding final weekend of her career in Stubblefield Center. The Richmond, Texas native recorded 12 points, 4.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game this weekend as she led the Lady Lions' defensive effort against UT Tyler and No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce. In the second game of the weekend, and her senior day, Gulley recorded six blocks including one with three seconds to play that closed the door on the Lions. She also shot .833 percent from the free throw line and going 8-of-10 against A&M-C. Overall she helped UAFS hold its opponents to 72.5 points per game on a .433 shooting percentage over the course of the weekend.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
N-11 Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton
N-18 Maddi Chitsey, Lubbock Christian
N-25 Ashton Duncan, Lubbock Christian
D-2 Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton (2)
D-9 De’Anira Moore, Angelo State
D-16 Deijah Blanks, St. Edward’s
D-23 Nicole Heyn, Texas A&M International
J-7 Mar’Shalia Lollie, UAFS
J-13 Maighan Hedge, Cameron
J-20 Elizabeth Cathcart, Midwestern State
J-27 Allie Schulte, Lubbock Christian (2)
F-3 Maighan Hedge, Cameron (2)
F-10 Hannah Wilson, St. Mary’s
F-17 Mica Schneider, Midwestern State
F-24 Abby Spurgin, West Texas A&M (2)
M-2 Hannah Boyett, UAFS
Defensive
N-11 Maddison Glass, Texas A&M-Commerce
N-18 Juliana Robertson, Lubbock Christian
N-25 Alexis Bryant, Texas A&M-Commerce
D-2 Juliana Louis, Texas A&M-Commerce
D-9 Sawyer Lloyd, Angelo State
D-16 Sammie Dufek, St. Edward’s
D-23 Chania Wright, Texas A&M-Commerce
J-7 Alexis Bryant, Texas A&M-Commerce (2)
J-13 Allie Schulte, Lubbock Christian
J-20 Tiana Parker, West Texas A&M
J-27 Tiana Parker, West Texas A&M (2)
F-3 Alexus Jones, Texas A&M-Commerce
F-10 Abby Spurgin, West Texas A&M
F-17 Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton, (3)
F-24 Alexis Bryant, Texas A&M-Commerce (3)
M-2 Tamera Gulley, UAFS
SELECTED NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Deijah Blanks, St. Edward’s, led SEU to an overtime win in San Antonio to secure the No. 8 seed and serve as host for the first round of the LSC Championship. She was the leading scorer with 31 points, leading rebounder with 13 boards and leading blocker with 3 in the contest for SEU.
Briley Perkins, St. Mary’s, scored a career-high 27 points in the overtime game against St. Edward's on Saturday. It is the fourth-straight game the freshman has scored in double figures and the third time in 2019-20 she's scored 20 or more points. She made a career-high eight free throws and sank five three-pointers - one off her high.
Patrycja Jaworska, Texas A&M International, led the Dustdevils to a 1-1 week with stellar performances in both games. In the first game of the week against Tarleton, the junior posted 13 points with four rebounds and a steal and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. However, her performance in the win against Texas Woman's on Saturday was truly exceptional as she posted a career-high 28 points and shot an eye-popping 7-for-10 from beyond the arch.
De'Anira Moore, Angelo State, remains a dominant force in the paint for Angelo State as she was crucial in the Belles two wins against Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin, scoring 40 points over the weekend. Moore shot 63% from the field, making 17-27 field goals, and shot 66% from the free throw line, making 6-9 free throws. Moore grabbed 20 total rebounds for ASU, eight offensive and 12 defensive, along with one steal and two blocks.
Marissa Escamilla, Tarleton, averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds in her first two career starts to help lead Tarleton to a 2-0 weekend on the road with wins over International and Kingsville. On Thursday, the Texans dominated the fourth quarter to beat International, 70-59. Escamilla, who earned her first career start on Thursday, recorded her second career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The 19 points is also a career-high for the sophomore. Escamilla brought the Texans to life in the final quarter. Escamilla made a layup, grabbed the defensive rebound on the opposite end of the court, and then made a tip-in shot to put the Texans up three, 52-49, with under six minutes to go and keep the offense momentum alive. Tarleton shot 50 percent from the field in the win. On Saturday, the Texans defeated Kingsville in a commanding win, 66-37. Escamilla tallied 18 points in the win, one-point shy of her career-high. Escamilla has shot over 50% from the field in the last 10 games. The sophomore also added four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in her second career start. In the second quarter, Escamilla contributed 10 of Tarleton's 24 second quarter points. Tarleton shot 45.1 percent from the field and stand at 17-0 on the season when shooting over 40 percent. The wins secured the No. 4 seed in the LSC Tournament and the Co-Divisional Champion title for Tarleton State.
Natalie DeLonge, Eastern New Mexico, Recorded her third double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds in victory over Cameron and averaged an impressive 18 points and nine rebounds last week. She tallied a season-high 21 points and helped the squad total a season-high 93 points in victory over Cameron. DeLonge recorded double-digit scoring figures in her sixth consecutive game following a 15-point performance in victory over Midwestern State and helped ENMU wrap up the fifth seed in the LSC tournament.
Katie Mayo, Oklahoma Christian, posted a pair of strong performances, including a 19-point, 13-rebound outing – her sixth double-double of the season – in a 73-47 win over Texas-Tyler that allowed OC to snag the final berth in the LSC tournament. Two days earlier, she had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in a 72-56 loss to No. 4-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce.
Dyani Robinson, Texas A&M-Commerce, had one of the best weeks of her freshman campaign last week. Against OC, she had six points and also added three assists. She then had a career game against UAFS, scoring 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, and also adding three assists.
Kristian James, UT Permian Basin, went out with a bang, scoring a new career-high on senior day with 22. The senior shot 10-for-17 and pulled down six rebounds in her final collegiate game. James became a scorer at the end of her collegiate career, scoring in double figures in three of her final four games.
Maddi Chitsey, Lubbock Christian, collected LSC divisional road wins at UT Permian Basin and Western New Mexico while leading the way offensively for LCU with an average of 12.5 points per game. She played 24 minutes in each game and led LCU with an average plus/minus of +30 in each game. Chitsey opened the week with 11 points and five rebounds at UTPB and followed with 14 points at WNMU.
Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton, averaged 16 points and 4.5 rebounds to help lead Tarleton to a 2-0 weekend on the road with wins over International and Kingsville. On Thursday, the Texans dominated the fourth quarter to beat International, 70-59. Hailey tallied 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in the win. With the help of Hailey's defense, the Texans forced 22 Dustdevil turnovers and scored 22 points off them. Tarleton held International to 37% shooting in the game. On Saturday, the Texans defeated Kingsville in a commanding win, 66-37. Hailey led the Texans with 22 points, her 26th career 20+ point game. The senior added four rebounds, two steals, and two assists. In the second quarter, Hailey was responsible for 11 of Tarleton's 24 second quarter points. The Texans forced 25 Javelina turnovers and scored 22 points of them. The Texans held the Javelinas to 32.5% shooting in the game. The wins secured the No. 4 seed in the LSC Tournament and the Co-Divisional Champion title for Tarleton State.
Catara Samuel, Angelo State, continues to be one of the most defensive players for the Belles, averaging 1.7 steals a game for Angelo State. Samuel scored 31 points against the Mustangs and the Falcons over the weekend, shooting 56% from the field and 43% from the three-point line, making 14-25 from the field and 3-7 from the three point line. Samuel grabbed 11 total rebounds for the weekend, one offensive and 10 defensive, along with six assists, one block, and four steals. Samuels quick feet and thinking were critical in keeping Angelo States opponents shooting percentage at a low .350 and keeping their scoring average at 66.5 points.
Abby Spurgin, West Texas A&M, continued to dominate in the paint for the No. 25 Lady Buffs as they picked up home wins over Midwestern State and Cameron to move to 26-5 overall heading into the LSC Championship next weekend in Frisco. The Fredericksburg, Texas product went 11of-17 (64.7%) from the floor including 8-of-10 (80%) from the free throw line to average 15.0 points per contest to go along with 14 rebounds (five offensive, nine defensive), two assists and seven blocks as the Lady Buffs held their opponents to a shooting percentage of 24.4% while they only scored an average of 40.0 points per game at the First United Bank Center. Spurgin has now scored in double-figures in 12 consecutive contests to lead the Lady Buffs to the second overall seed in this weekend's LSC Championship at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.
Alexus Quaadman, UT Permian Basin, finished her historic freshman season by becoming the single-season rebound leader and all-time blocks leader in program history. The freshman finished the season with three straight double-doubles, to tie the school record of eight in just her first year of college basketball. On Saturday, she had 15 points to go along with a new career-high 16 rebounds as the Falcons nearly upset Angelo State on Senior Day.
Alivia Lewis, Eastern New Mexico, helped team hold Cameron to a 33.3 shooting percentage and helped hold Midwestern State to a 26.4 shooting percentage and 60 points. In the victory over Cameron, she swiped three steals and blocked two shots while hauling in 12 rebounds.
Alexus Jones, Texas A&M-Commerce, had another strong defensive week for the Lions, recording two blocks and four steals while playing a season high for minutes. Against OC, she had two blocks and a pair of steals in the team's win, while also pulling in four rebounds. She then had two more steals against UAFS.
Juliana Robertson, Lubbock Christian, helped LCU close out the final week of the regular season with a 2-0 record with LSC divisional road wins at UT Permian Basin and Western New Mexico behind her excellent defensive play. The junior forward averaged 8.0 defensive rebounds on the week and posted average plus/minus of +24.5. She led the team with a 40-minute plus/minus pace of +69. Robertson posted eight points and six rebounds in a win at UTPB and followed with 10 rebounds and two steals at WNMU. LCU held opponents to a 23.9% shooting percentage on the week.