SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team will play its first round game of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament against Black Hills State on Friday, March 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas.
The Belles are 22-6 and were Lone Star Conference Champions for the second consecutive season. ASU enters as the No. 4 seed scoring 72.0 points per game and holding teams to 59.5 points.
This is the 11th overall appearance for Angelo State in the NCAA Tournament. ASU also made the NCAA Tournament in 2017, 2016, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 1994. The Belles advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional final for the first time in program history last season.
The Belles are led in scoring by the LSC Player and Newcomer of the Year Marquita Daniels. She has scored 14.9 points per game and broke the ASU single-season record for steals with 98. She is No. 4 nationally in total steals. The senior is the team leader with 91 assists and has made 45.5 percent of her shots from the field. She has 22 games in double figures and seven games of at least 20 points.
De'Anira Moore, the LSC Defensive Player of the Year, who has 11 doubles-doubles and the only triple double in program history. She scores 12.3 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. She leads the team in blocks with 87 and it is the third most in a single season in ASU history. She needs two to move into second place. The sophomore hits 47.9 percent from the field and 73.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Dezirae Hampton is third on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. She was named to the second team All-LSC while having four doubles-doubles and 23 games in double figures. The junior has recorded a season average of 7.3 rebounds to go along with 50 assists, five blocks and 29 steals.
Ekiya Gray, a LSC honorable mention choice, is averaging 9.9 points per game in 19 games. She grabs 7.9 rebounds per game with 34 assists, 11 blocks and 30 steals. She has scored in double figures in 11 games and three double-doubles on the season.
Madi Greenwood and Keanna Kelly, the two players with NCAA Division II South Central tournament experience, are playing 8.8 and 8.5 points per game. Greenwood is the team leader at the free throw line hitting 83.5 percent to go along with 32 3-pointers. She also has the second most assists with 64 and 18 steals. Kelly leads ASU with 42 3-pointers and 53 assists and 25 steals.
Others that have provided depth include Mikayla Blount, Kynese Davis, Dearria Watson and Aaliyah Warren. Blount scored 4.0 points per game and has hit 23 3-pointers. Davis has 59 assists on the year with 19 steals. Watson scored 1.5 points per game in 11 games and Warren has seen action in 22 game.
Black Hills State enters with a record of 24-7 on the season. The Yellow Jackets score 67.2 points per game and hold opponents to 54.2. The winner of the first round game will face Lubbock Christian and Tarleton State on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The game will be heard locally on KCLL 100.1 with Jeremy Bryant on the call.
