Aggies begin final homestand against UT Tyler and No. 3 A&M-Commerce Inbox

For Immediate Release

February 12, 2020

Cameron University Athletics

Kenton Means – Sports Information Director

LAWTON, Okla. — The Aggie women’s basketball team has four more regular season home contests on the schedule, and the stretch begins with battles against UT Tyler and No. 3 A&M-Commerce this week.

Starting 5:
1. Before their loss to Tarleton last Saturday, Cameron stretched their winning streak to five games with a 74-69 win over Texas Woman’s, the program’s longest since the 2014-15 season; that year they went 15-12 overall and 12-4 in Lone Star Conference play.
2. Sophomore Maighan Hedge scored 14 points and TWU and 11 more against the Texans, her 18th and 19th double-figure scoring game of the season; her 20.0 points per game is now second in the LSC rankings and 20th in all of Division II.
3. The Patriots of UT Tyler are at the bottom of the conference and division standings in their second year under head coach Jeannette Mosher; they are 3-17 in the first year as a member of the NCAA DII and are 1-15 in LSC games and 0-6 against the division.
4. At 22-0 this season, A&M-Commerce is one of three remaining undefeated teams in all of DII and are ranked No. 3 in both the WBCA and D2SIDA top-25 polls.
5. Cameron, UT Tyler, and A&M-Commerce each have different postseason outlooks; the Lions have all but secured the top spot in the conference, CU looks like a lock to make the tournament and is playing for a higher seed, and the Patriots are on the outside looking in.

Last time out:
Not much went right for the Aggies as their five-game losing streak was snapped last Saturday against Tarleton. CU recorded their lowest scoring drought of their year, scoring under 50 points for the third time this season. They also shot a season low 23.4 percent from the field and went 4-20 from long range. On the other end of the court, TSU shot over 50 percent from the field and went 6-12 from three in the 74-45 win. Hedge led CU with 11 points, while Stephanie Peterson chipped in 10 points for the Black and Gold.

About the Aggies:
Cameron’s first loss since Jan. 18, ended the team’s longest winning streak in five years and moved their record to 10-12 overall and 9-7 in league play. The Aggies rank second in the LSC with their 71.0 point per game, but their scoring defense of 78.2 is last in the league rankings. While they shoot under 38 percent from the field, their success comes from long range and at the foul line. CU makes 9.4 three-point field goals per game at a 34.3 percent clip and hits their 14.2 foul shots per outing at a 74.1 percent clip. Cameron also grabs almost 40 rebounds per contest and averages 18.2 turnovers compared to 13.5 assists per game.

In addition to her team-leading 20.0 points per game, Hedge also averages 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per outing and is shooting 43 percent from the floor, 39 percent from three, and a league-high 86 percent form the charity stripe. Ava Battese is second on the Aggie squad and fifth in the LSC with 16.2 points per game, while also averaging 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals for Cameron.

Scouting the Patriots:
The 3-17 Patriots have not won a game since Jan. 11, and are just 1-10 since the start of the new year. They average just under 55 points per game, giving up 71 to their opposition, and are shooting 35 percent from the field, 30 percent from three, and 69 percent from the charity stripe. UTT turns the ball over 20.2 times per game, compared to just 11.3 assists per outing on the offensive end. Junior guard Kelsey Crouse leads the squad with 11.3 points per game, and Breezy Birchette averages 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per outing for the Patriots.

Against UTT:
The Aggies opened their first matchup against the Patriots with a 31-11 first quarter, shooting 71 percent from the field and going 7-8 from three, and led 54-25 at halftime. They cruised to an 84-68 win over UTT, making a program-record 18 three-point field goals in the game. Hedge led CU with 25 points, making seven triples, while three other Aggies’ reached double-figures in the win.

Scouting the Lions:
The undefeated Lions have relied on their defense and rebounding to this point in the season, as they have national top-10 rankings in offensive rebounds per game, rebounding margin, scoring defense, scoring margin, and turnover margin. They allow just 53.2 points per game on the defensive end, limiting their opponents to just a .358 field goal percentage. They also out-rebound their opposition by an average of 11.1 boards per game and force 22.0 turnovers with an average of 11.8 steals per contest. Junior guard Chania Wright leads the team with 13.5 points per game and averages 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists. Both Dyani Robinson and Alexis Bryant average over 10.5 points for the Lions, with Bryant leading the team with 7.7 rebounds per contest.

Against A&M-C:
In their first meeting this season, Cameron was within six points of the Lions at the end of the third quarter, but got outscored 27-11 in the final frame to lose 77-55. CU was held to .339 field goal percentage, going just 2-17 from three while making 11 of their 15 free throw attempts. A&M-Commerce forced 20 Aggie turnovers, with 12 coming on steals, and out-rebounded their opponent 56-40. McKenna Spikes led Cameron with 14 points on 6-10 shooting, while Hedge added 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists but turned the ball over eight times.

Who has next:
Cameron’s final homestand wraps up with divisional rematches against Oklahoma Christian on Thursday, Feb. 20 and then UAFS on Saturday, Feb. 22. The match against the Lions, is not only CU’s Senior Day but it is also Cameron University’s Homecoming game.

Kenton Means, ‘15

Sports Information Director – Cameron University

2800 W. Gore Blvd., South Shepler 512

Lawton, OK 73505

Office – (580) 581-2303

Cell – (580) 583-2210

Fax – (580) 581-5537

CAMERONAGGIES.COM