SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team returns home for a Lone Star Conference game with Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. at Stephens Arena at the Junell Center.
The Belles (7-4, 0-1 LSC) are coming off a LSC opening loss to Tarleton State on the road. The 65 points scored by ASU is a season low and the 94 points allowed is the most this season. Angelo State is 5-1 at home this season.
"I really want for us to play better," Angelo State head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "I didn't think we played well against Tarleton State. We made some defensive mistakes and TSU punished us for it. We have to rebound the ball better and limit second chance points as well. We haven't shot the ball well lately and hopefully that turns around tomorrow."
ASU is still leading the conference in scoring offense at 83.3 points per game, offensive rebounds (17.1), turnover margin (4.0) and assist to turnover ratio (1.23). The Belles are No. 2 in the scoring margin (13.3), field goal percentage (.441), 3-point percentage (.363) and 3-point field goals made per game (7.1), free throw percentage (.757) and defensive rebounds (36.6). A total of eight Belles have recorded at least 10 assists on the season and three are scoring in double figures.
Texas A&M-Commerce enters the game at 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the LSC. The Lions took both games last season. TAMUC have four players that average at least nine points per game. Amari Jones (9.7), Khala Riley (9.4), Shomari Harris (9.3) and Gabby Scott (9.2) are the top scores for TAMUC. The Lions score 69.9 points per game and hold opponents to 61.9.
"They are really dangerous in transition offense," Baker said. "They score about 80-percent of the time in transition and if they don't they score off of an offensive rebound. Those are two things we will have to ready for. They have six players average about 10 points per game and we have to be ready to defend everybody. It is a good challenge for us and I am excited for us to play at home."
The Belles were led by Jasmine Prophet's 11 points and a career high five blocks. It is the third time in the last four games the junior has scored in double figures while averaging 10.6 per game. The Jackson, Mississippi, native is tied for the team lead with 5.2 rebounds, field goal percentage (.511) and has recorded a team high 18 blocks. Prophet has scored in double figures in six games this season. She has also dished out 14 assists and seven steals.
Taylor Dorsey, the LSC leader in points per game at 17.7, was held to her lowest output of the season of just two points. It was only the third time this season she has been held to single digit points. The Fort Worth native leads the team in assists (40) and steals (21).
Brea Mitchell is scoring 10.0 points per game and added eight points against Tarleton State. She has recorded 25 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. She has five double-digit scoring games and has scored in every game this season. The senior has 25 assists
Diamalises Rivera is averaging 8.3 points per game off the bench this season. She has scored in 10 of ASU's 11 games and four times has recorded double figures. Rivera scored a career high 25 points against McMurry and contributed eight points and five rebounds versus McMurry. The senior grabs 4.5 rebounds per game and is hitting 50.7-percent from the field.
KeAnna Kelly is scoring 8.2 points per game and added two 3-pointers to her season total of 17. She is second behind Dorsey who has 18 on the season. The sophomore has 26 assists, 15 steals and records 4.0 rebounds per game. She has contributed four double figure games on the season.
Christina Robinson has scored 7.6 points per game this season. She is second on the team in steals (16) and assists (27). The Gilbert, Arizona, native has four games in double figures fifth on the team with 4.0 rebounds this season.
Adding depth to the Belles lineup includes Lexi Murphy, Natalie Quesnel, Kiahna Thompson, Nekeita Bailey and Fabrianna Dixon. Murphy has hit 12 three pointers on the season and averages 5.9 points per game. Quesnel adds 4.1 points per game and 2.7 rebounds. She is one of the eight Belles in double figures assists with 13. Thompson added her name to the double-digit assists with her 10th against TSU. She brings in 4.0 points per game as well. Bailey has recorded 13 assists and 2.4 points per game. Dixon had her second best performance of the season with nine points. The freshman has scored 2.8 points per game this season.
The game will be broadcasted locally on 1260AM KKSA with Jeremy Bryant on the call and televised on RamTV, Suddenlink channel six.
