Four Southland Teams Slated Before Christmas Break
Four Southland teams will hit the hardwood one more time before play stops for Christmas break.
Three league teams will tipoff on Tuesday. Central Arkansas will look to extend its win streak to eight games as the Sugar Bears head to Eastern Kentucky for a 1 p.m. start time.
Southeastern Louisiana's offense has topped the 100-point mark in its last two starts and have won four consecutive games. The Lady Lions will head to Baton Rouge, La., to face in-state rival No. 12/11 LSU at 7 p.m. and McNeese State will face Conference USA opponent Tulane at 7 p.m.
UTSA hosted Kansas State on Monday and were edged by the Wildcats, 59-55, at the Duel in the Desert tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Megan Herbert Ranked Nationally
Central Arkansas freshman forward Megan Herbert is the current league leader in scoring (24.3), rebounds (13.9) and ranks third in field goal percentage (.602). If eligible for NCAA ranking, Herbert's 24.3 points per game would rank fifth, her 13.9 rebound per game average would lead the nation and her 60.2 field goal percentage would rank tied for 16th in the NCAA.
Megan Herbert Leads NCAA With Nine Double-Doubles
Central Arkansas freshman forward Megan Herbert has begun her collegiate career with a double-doubles in each of the Sugar Bears' nine games played this season Herbert tying former Central Arkansas standout Checola Seals' school record of consecutive games with a double-double (9). If eligible for NCAA ranking Herbert would currently lead the nation.
A native of Rogers, Ark., Herbert has five of the league's eight games of 30-plus point performances with 38 points and 11 rebounds against Wiley and a 30-point, 19-rebound performance in the Dec. 19, victory over Southeast Missouri State. For the season, Herbert averages 24.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.
Trashanna Smith Ranked 13th in Blocks in the NCAA
In the latest NCAA statistics report, Lamar junior Trashanna Smith ranks 13th in the NCAA with 2.6 blocks per game. A native of Houston, Texas, Smith leads the Southland with 31 blocks on the year and set a school record with nine blocks in the Lady Cardinal's 111-52 win over Huston-Tillotson Dec. 2.
Brooke Shepherd Ranked 12th in Three-Point Percentage
Northwestern State junior guard Brooke Shepherd is currently ranked 12th in the latest NCAA stat report in 3-point field goal percentage.
A native of Argyle, Texas, Shepherd has had a hot hand all season knocking down 25-of-49 for a .510 mark from behind the arc.
Southeastern Louisiana junior guard Chelsea Hix ranks 23rd in the NCAA with a .472 three-point field goal percentage hitting 25-of-53 on the year.
Micah Rice Ranked Third in Free Throw Percentage
Central Arkansas freshman Micah Rice leads the Southland with a .944 percentage at the charity stripe.
A native of Little Rock, Ark., Rice has hit 34-of-36 in nine games played. If eligible for NCAA ranking Rice would currently rank third in the nation and is one of only three players in Division I with a .940 mark or better at the free throw line.
Central Arkansas Scoring Offense Ranked Nationally
In nine games played thus far this season Central Arkansas has amassed 737 points for an 81.9 scoring average and are outscoring its opponents by a + 23.4 scoring margin, both currently lead the Southland. If eligible for NCAA ranking, the Sugar Bears would currently rank tied for ninth in scoring offense and tied for eighth in scoring margin.
Northwestern State 14th in Three-Point Field Goal Percentage
In nine games played this season Northwestern State leads the Southland with a .399 mark from three-point range.
Junior Brooke Shepherd leads the Lady Demons from the arc with 21 treys on the year, ranked third in the league and is ranked 17th in the NCAA with a .500 shooting percentage.
Junior Brittany Houston is second on the team with 11 three-pointers, junior Jessica McPhail has nine, senior Anna Cate Williams has eight and freshman Meredith Graf has seven.
Northwestern State Ties School Record With 14 Three's in Win over Grambling
Northwestern State raised the bar in a 93-62 rout of Grambling State Dec. 16, as the Lady Demons tied a school record knocking down 14 three-pointers.
A season-high six Lady Demon players scored in double-figures as Northwestern basked in the glory of its largest margin of victory (31 points) since a 101-39 shellacking of Southern-New Orleans on Dec. 4, 2007.
As a team Northwestern set a new season high with a .424 three-point shooting percentage after hitting 14-of-19 from the arc.
Five Lady Demons hit 3-pointers led by freshman Meredith Graf with a perfect 4-of-4 finishing with 16 points. Junior Brooke Shepherd matched Graf's total knocking down 4-of-5 and had a game-high 19 points. Senior Lyndzee Greene turned in a 3-of-5 performance from three-point distance for 12 points. Junior Jessica McPhail was 2-of-2 and junior Brittiany Houston was 1-of-2 from the arc with 11 points.
Westin Taylor Sets Southland Three-Point Record
Central Arkansas freshman guard Westin Taylor knocked down a league-record 10 three-pointers as the Sugar Bears coasted 119-59 over Ecclesia Nov. 18. A native of Silver Hill, Ark., Taylor's 10 three-pointers are the most by a player in a single game in conference history. The previous record of nine 3-pointers was held by four players. The most recent was former McNeese State guard Shante' Perry in 2009 against Louisiana Tech.
Taylor currently leads the Southland in 3-point baskets made per game (3.8) and if eligible for NCAA ranking, Taylor would rank tied for seventh for 3-point field goals made.
Central Arkansas Sets Southland Points Record
In the Sugar Bears' 119-59 win over Ecclesia Nov. 18, UCA set the Southland record for most points scored in a single game. Central Arkansas also set the defensive record for fewest points allowed in a 65-22 rout of Central Methodist Nov. 25. The previous record of 24 points was held by Lamar set against Texas College in 2004.
Lamar Ties Southland Three-Point Record
In a 111-52 win over Huston-Tillotson on Dec. 2, Lamar University tied the Southland 3-point single game record knocking down 16 shots from beyond the arc.
Freshman Jasmin Henderson went 5-of-6 in three-pointers scoring a career-high 23 points. Henderson has hit 13-of-26 from three-point distance for a .500 percentage ranking fourth in the league.
Junior Jenna Plumley added to her league-leading 29 made three-pointers with four. Plumley currently ranks 17th in the NCAA in three-point baskets per game (3.2).
Sophomore Ang Green hit four from beyond the arc and netted a career-high 21 points. Seniors Ashley Crawford and Darika Hill had two and one three-point basket respectively giving Lamar five players with three-point baskets.
Lamar joins McNeese State (2008) and Southeastern Louisiana (2009) as the only teams in Southland history with 16 three-pointers in a single game.
Sam Houston State Ranked Third in Consecutive Three-Point Streak
Sam Houston State is one of three current teams in the NCAA with a made three-point basket in the last 417 consecutive games.
The Bearkats are currently ranked third among teams who have reached the 400 game plateau with a three-point basket.
Brittney Williams Sixth on Lamar Career Scoring List
Lamar senior forward Brittney Williams moved into sixth place all-time on Lamar's career scoring list with a nine point performance against Idaho in the World Vision Classic at Baylor University Nov. 28. A native of Spring, Texas, Williams has amassed 1,321 points in her tenure with the Lady Cardinals and needs another 31 points to climb into the top five past former Lamar standout LaToya Carson with 1,352 points.
Notable Performances
Lamar junior guard Jenna Plumley had double-doubles in back-to-back games and has three for the season. A native of Red Rock, Okla., Plumley dished out 20 assists with only five turnovers in the two wins. Jenna is second on the team in scoring (12.6) and leads in assists (6.3) and has played 436 out of a possible 480 minutes.
Southeastern Louisiana junior guard Chelsea Hix put together the top two games of her career last week, averaging 27.5 points per game, shooting 80 percent from three-point range (16-of-20). A native of Canton, Ga., Hix scored a career-high 34 points and tied the single-game school record previously set by Becky Crosby versus Alabama State in the 1993-94 season. Her point total was the most by a Lady Lion since former Southeastern guard Dacia McGowan dropped 35 points at Nicholls in the 2004-05 season. The 34 points were the most by a Lady Lion since 2004-05.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi junior forward Adrianne Scott led the Islanders in scoring with 20 points against Texas-Pan American, just missing her career-high of 22 points set last season. A native of Waco, Texas, Scott's block stopped the Broncs from extending the lead and allowed them to go down the court for the game-winning points, giving them a tough 61-60 victory.
Six All-Conference Honorees Return
Six players from last season's All-Southland Conference teams return for the 2009-10 season including Stephen F. Austin senior guard Whitney Cormier, as the league's only first-team returning player. Other preseason first-team honorees are Lamar senior forward Brittney Williams, a 2008-09 second-team all-conference selection. Lamar senior forward Darika Hill, UT Arlington junior guard Tamara Simmons and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi junior guard Jade Davis each received third-team all-conference honors in 2008-09 and round out the preseason first-team selections. UT Arlington junior guard Shalyn Martin, a 2008-09 third-team all-conference selection, returns as a preseason second-team member.
Rounding out the 2009-10 preseason team selections are UTSA junior guard Amber Gregg, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior center Elisa Beagle, Lamar junior guard Jenna Plumley and Texas State senior guard Victoria Davis. Lamar leads all Southland teams with three preseason selections including two first-team members. UT Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi each have two and Stephen F. Austin, UTSA and Texas State all had one each. Returning players who were named All-Southland Conference following the 2008-09 season were automatically placed on the 2009-10 preseason teams. Open positions were filled by nomination and vote of the league's head coaches.
Lamar Leads Southland With Three Preseason Team Selections
Lamar leads all teams with three preseason team selections. Senior forwards Brittney Williams and Darika Hill received first-team honors and junior guard Jenna Plumley was selected to the second-team.
Williams, a native of Spring, Texas, was selected second-team all-conference after starting all 31 games last season. She ranked 10th in scoring (12.0) and 14th in rebounds (6.0). Hill was named newcomer of the year and was a third-team all-conference selection. Hill, a native of New Iberia, La., ranked seventh in blocks (30), 11th in rebounds (7.1) and 15th in scoring (11.0). Plumley sat out the 2008-09 season after transferring from the University of Oklahoma. A native of Red Rock, Okla., Plumley started 41 games and averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 assists in 63 games played as a Sooner. As a sophomore in 2007-08, she stared all 31 games, handing out 107 assists and led Oklahoma in three-pointers made and attempted, knocking down 64-of-202 from behind the arc.
Southland Tournament Returns to Katy, Texas for Next Two Years
After two great tournaments in Katy, Texas, in 2008 and 2009, the Southland Conference has signed up for another two years, meaning the 2010 and 2011 Southland Conference tournaments will be played at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.
This year's tournament moves up one day and begins with the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, March 9. The semifinals and finals, which will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network, will take place Wednesday, March 10 and the championship game will be played Friday, March 12 with a 7 p.m. tipoff.
This year's tournament will be the 11th in league history to be played at a neutral site. The tournament was played in Shreveport, La., from 1995-2001 and was held in Houston in 2007 before moving to Katy in 2008.