SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team will start 2018 with a pair of LSC road games against Tarleton State on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Wisdom Gym and follow it up with Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. in Commerce.
The Belles are 8-2 overall and tied for second in the LSC at 3-1. ASU is the No. 1 scoring offense in the LSC at 74.0 points per game and No. 2 in scoring defense only allowing 57.9 per contest. Opponents are outrebounded by 10.1 per game, No. 2 in the LSC, while Angelo State is tops in rebounding offense (46.5), offensive rebounds (15.9 per game) and defensive rebounds (30.6 per game). The Belles are also No. 10 nationally in rebounds per game and No. 9 in fewest fouls (14.4 per game).
Tarleton State will enter the game at 7-5 overall and 1-3 in the LSC. The TexAnns have had the Belles number as of late winning eight of the last 10 matchups. ASU's last win in Stephenville on Feb. 4, 2006 after an 83-76 overtime victory. Texas A&M-Commerce is 6-5 overall and 3-1 in the LSC. ASU's last win in Commerce came on Feb. 13, 2016. ASU is 7-3 in the last 10 matchups with the Lions.
Angelo State has five players scoring in double figures and one averaging double-digit rebounds.
De'Anira Moore, the No. 2 offensive rebounder in the nation, is No. 4 in the LSC in scoring and No. 2 in rebounding. Her six double-doubles on the season are No. 20 nationally. The sophomore scored 14.4 points per game and grabs 10.7 rebounds per game. She has career highs with 21 points against Midwestern State and 18 rebounds versus Oklahoma Christian. The Allen native is efficient from the field making 49.5 percent of her shots while adding 14 assists. She also leads the LSC in blocks with 29.
Ekiya Gray is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 per game in just three games. She has scored in double figures in two of her three contests this season. The Houston native has a .458 shooting clip and has recorded 5.3 rebounds per game.
Madi Greenwood, No. 6 in free throw percentage nationally at .944, is averaging 12.0 points per game. She scored a team high 15 points in the win over Texas A&M International. The Kansas native is second on the team in assists with 23 and also has four blocks and six steals on the year. Greenwood is tops on the team in 3-point shooting with 20 total and a .476 percentage.
Marquita Daniels is No. 11 nationally in steals per game at 2.0. She has a total of 33 steals on the season and scores 11.9 points per game. The Atlanta native leads the team in assists with 25. She has scored in double figures in five of her last six games.
Dezirae Hampton is second on the team in rebounding at 7.8 per game and scores 11.2 points per game. She has hit the third most 3-pointers with 14 and has dished out 20 assists. Hampton has scored in double figures in the last four games including her first double-double of the season against St. Edward's.
Keanna Kelly is scoring 9.8 points per game this season and is second on the team in 3-pointers with 17. The senior also grabs 4.7 rebounds per game. She is one of five players with at least 20 assists with 21 on the year. She also is one of two players with double-digit steals at 13.
Mikayla Blount, Kynese Davis, Aaliyah Warren and Dearria Watson have all made contributions off the bench. Blount is scoring 4.0 points per game and is just one game removed from her first career double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Davis is tied for second on the team with 23 assists and has also made eight steals on the year. Warren scored a career high against Texas A&M International with six points. Watson has scored in six games this season and has three blocks on the year.
The game will be carried locally on 1260AM KKSA with Jeremy Bryant on the call.
