Southland To Begin Conference Play Jan. 10
Southland to begin conference play Jan. 10
With the conclusion of nonconference play on Tuesday, Southland teams will begin league play next Saturday. Current division leaders Northwestern State and Lamar continue to defy their preseason predictions. The Lady Demons were slated as fourth in the East Division in both the coaches’ and sports information director’s polls. Heading into conference play Northwestern State is one of three Southland teams with eight wins (8-5) and have won its last two games and are undefeated at home in Prather Coliseum at 7-0. Lamar was picked third in the West Division by the coaches and tied for second in the SID poll. The Lady Cardinals currently boast the league’s best record at 8-4 and are 7-0 at home in the Montagne Center.
McNeese State win streak at six games
After starting 2-5, McNeese State turned their season around putting together a six game win streak, the longest this season by the Cowgirls and is the current longest in the conference. During the streak, senior forward Shante’ Perry has been the hot hand leading the Southland with 19.5 points per game. Freshman guards Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett have contributed 10.5 and 10.3 points per game respectively. Freshman forward Ja’Niqua Kendrix has pulled down 53 rebounds during the streak including a career-high 17 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on December 20.
Senior Shante’ Perry has career day
McNeese State senior forward Shante’ Perry had her best day in a collegiate uniform Saturday against Louisiana Tech. The Cleveland, Texas, native, tied a single-game conference three-point record knocking down nine from beyond the arc and tied a single-game school record with 39 points, the top single-game point total this season. Perry also tied the school record for field goals made with 14 and went into the locker room with 21 first half points. Perry connected on 14 of 25 field goals and was nearly perfect from behind the arc, making nine of 10 attempts. Her efforts garnered player of the week honors in convincing fashion claiming 11 of 12 first place votes. The most by any player of the week recipient this season.
UTSA win streak at five games
UTSA started its 2008-09 campaign on a down note recording a 2-6 record through its first eight contests. But over the past five games the Roadrunners have put it together and are one game out of the West Division lead at 7-6. Four players have averaged over 10 points per game during the five-game win streak led by sophomore guard Amber Gregg with 14.2 points a game. Close behind is senior guard Monica Gibbs with 14 points per contest. Senior forward Onika Anderson tallied 12 points per outing and senior forward Ryba Pawlaczyk turned in 11.2 points a game. Anderson leads the team with three double-doubles during the win streak.
UTSA sets school three-point record
UTSA won its fifth game in a row in dramatic fashion as the Roadrunners came alive from the arc setting the school record with 13 three-point baskets in a 63-54 win over Conference USA opponent Rice University at the Convocation Center on Monday, Jan. 5. Sophomore guard Amber Gregg drained six treys in scoring a career-high 25 points to lead the Roadrunners in their record-setting victory.
Senior Monica Gibbs UTSA’s all-time leader in rebounds
UTSA senior guard Monica Gibbs pulled down her 779th career rebound for first place all-time in UTSA women’s basketball. The moment occurred against High Point University on December 30 on her home floor at the Convocation Center. The Stillwater, Okla., native, was also named to the all-tournament team of the Wells Fargo New Years Classic hosted by UTSA. The previous record was held by former standout Margaret Martinovich with 778 boards. Gibbs has since then eclipsed the 800 rebound plateau against Conference USA member Tulsa University on Jan. 5, marking the fifth consecutive win by UTSA.
Gibbs 8th in assists in NCAA
Monica Gibbs league-leading 6.2 assists per game is currently 8th in the NCAA out of 100 players ranked. Gibbs 80 assists on the year is also the leading overall mark in the Southland Conference.
Senior Emily Spickler 3rd in three-point percentage in NCAA
Lamar senior guard Emily Spickler is currently third out of 100 ranked in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage. The Salina, Kansas, native, has knocked down 28 of 54 from beyond the arc for a 51.9 mark. Her top outing was a 5-6 day from deep against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 18.
Kristy Carlin one point shy of 1,000 career points
Southeastern Louisiana senior forward Kristy Carlin needs one point to join the 1K club at SLU. The Walker native will be honored for becoming the 11th student-athlete in school history to reach both 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds during Tuesday’s game with Millsaps.
Northwestern State ties school three-point record
The Lady Demons sank a school record-tying 14 three-pointers in an 83-70 win over Ark.-Pine Bluff on Monday. One game after connecting on a season-best from both the field and three-point range, NWLA topped that by sinking 56 percent from the field and 64 percent of its shots from long range - both season bests. Five different players connected from downtown led by sophomore forward Jessica McPhail hitting five of six. Sophomore guard Brooke Shepherd nailed four of six, freshman guard Demetria White hit two of three, sophomore guard Brittiany Houston knocked down both attempts and junior guard Lyndzee Green added one as well.
Northwestern State youngest team in NCAA
The 2008-09 Northwestern State Lady Demons squad sports 15 underclassmen, the most on any team in the country. Ironically, NWLA also has the youngest coach. Jennifer Graf is 30 years young. In her fifth season in Natchitoches, La., Graf has been the youngest NCAA Division I coach each season.