Cameron hosts OC for Pink Night and UAFS for Senior Day

For Immediate Release

February 19, 2020

Cameron University Athletics

Kenton Means – Sports Information Director

LAWTON, Okla — Cameron women’s basketball closes out the home season against Oklahoma Christian on Thursday, which will be their annual Pink Night as a part of the Play4Kay initiative, and then UAFS on Saturday, which will be Senior Day and Homecoming for Cameron University.

Starting 5:
1. Cameron was just a few possessions away from upsetting the undefeated and No. 3 ranked A&M-Commerce Lions last Saturday; CU shot 39 percent from the field, but was just 7-31 from three and 15-23 from the foul line in the five-point loss.
2. Senior Amaka Nwakamma averaged a double-double last week, including a 24-point, 12-rebound performance against the third ranked Lions; she also added 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per outing during the two-game span.
3. In their 35th year with Stephanie Findley at the helm, Oklahoma Christian enters the second to last week of the regular season with a 7-15 overall record and a 7-11 league mark, going 1-5 in their last six games, including a 79-71 loss to Cameron on Jan. 25.
4. UAFS was on a four-game winning streak before their two tough losses last week against Lubbock Christian and Angelo State; They are an even .500 on the season (12-12) and in conference play (9-9) this season under second year head coach Tari Cummings.
5. In the Lone Star Conference standings, the Aggies currently sit in ninth, UAFS follows in 10th, and Oklahoma Christian is tied for 11th with Midwestern State; the top-12 teams make the tournament.

Last time out:
Cameron had one of their best efforts in a loss this season, falling to the third ranked A&M-Commerce Lions, 83-78 last Saturday. They held A&M-C to just a 36.5 shooting percentage and forced 22 turnovers with 15 of those coming on steals. CU’s poor shooting from three and the charity stripe as well as them being out-rebounded 57-38 were key factors in the tough loss. Nwakamma had a game-high 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds and a trio of steals. Fellow senior Ava Battese added 18 points with five triples and Maighan Hedge added 13 points for the Black and Gold.

About the Aggies:
Splitting their outings last week, Cameron is still playing to earn the fifth through eighth seed in the LSC tournament and the chance to host a first-round contest. They are 11-13 on the year and 10-8 in league play, which has them all alone in ninth in the league standings. The Aggies’ 72 points per game is third most in the LSC, while their 9.6 three-point field goals per game is tops in the league and 10th in all of Division II. Their struggles come on the defensive end, where they give up league-high 78 points per game on 42 percent shooting from the floor. The Black and Gold average 40 rebounds and 14 assists per outing while recording 7.6 steals and 3.1 blocks per game on defense. Hedge is tops on the team, tied for the league lead, and 23rd in the nation with her 19.5 points per game. The sophomore guard also averages 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 86 percent from the free throw line. Battese is fifth in the LSC with 16.6 points per game and leads the nation with her 4.5 three-point field goals per game.

Scouting the Eagles:
Oklahoma Christian enters their matchup against Cameron with a 7-15 overall record and a 7-11 conference mark. They average 65.7 points per game and shoot 39 percent from the field on offense while giving up 74 points to their opposition each contest. OC makes their 13.8 free throws per game at a 74 percent clip and average 15.5 assists compared to 17.7 turnovers per outing. Maddison Collyer leads the squad with 11.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game, while Megan Shelton averages 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds and Katie Mayo averages 10.8 points and a team-best 7.6 boards per contest.

Against OC:
The Aggies trailed by four points to the Eagles in their first season matchup, but used a 12-point second half advantage to earn the 79-71 road victory. CU knocked down 13 triples and went 24-33 from the charity stripe in the win, while OC shot just 59 percent from the foul line and turned the ball over 21 times, with 10 of those coming via Aggie steals. Four CU players reached double-figures, led by Stephanie Peterson with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Collyer led the Eagles with a 13-point, 12-assist double-double while a trio of others score 10-plus for the home team.

Scouting the Lady Lions:
The 12-12 Lady Lions average 64 points on the offensive end while giving up an average of 68 points on 42 percent shooting from the field to their opposition. They struggle at controlling the ball, turning over the rock 21.5 times per game, but return the favor on the other end, forcing 19.5 turnovers with 9.5 of those coming on UAFS steals. Fort Smith also can’t stay out of foul trouble, allowing their opponents to make 17 free throws per outing. 5-11 junior Mar’Shalia Lollie averages 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field, while Hannah Boyett scores 9.9 points per game and Ashanti Eden averages 9.0 points and 1.5 steals for the Lady Lions.

Against UAFS:
Cameron scored 43 second-half points on their way to a close 73-68 win over UAFS on Jan. 23. Nwakamma led fourth quarter comeback, outscoring the Lady Lions 11-1 all on her own in the final 2:05 of play. The senior guard finished with 18 points on 5-6 shooting and 8-10 from the foul line, while Hedge added a game-high 29 points on 10-17 shooting from the floor. UAFS shot just 36 percent from the field and was 5-18 from three and 15-24 in free throw attempts in the loss. A trio of Lady Lions reached double-figures, with Gulley recording a 13-point, 10 rebound double-double to go along with four steals.

Who has next:
The Aggie women face a pair of tough tests to wrap up the regular season, visiting a 17-7 Eastern New Mexico squad on Thursday, Feb. 27, and a 22-5 West Texas A&M program on Saturday, Feb. 29, for the regular season finale in Canyon, Texas.

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

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