SAN ANGELO – After a tough but promising opening weekend for the Belles, they return to court this weekend in Lubbock for the Lady Chap Invitational, also playing a midweek exhibition against Division I opponent Abilene Christian on Wednesday.
Wednesday's game against Abilene Christian is set to start at 11 a.m. and is available to watch on ESPN+.
The Belles are coming off a tough weekend against stout opposition in MSU Denver and Western Colorado.
Payton Brown has been the focal point of the Belles' offense this season. The Wayland Baptist transfer has played 74 out of a possible 80 minutes on the floor this season and leads the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game. The guard also leads the team with five steals on the season.
Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant and
Madeline Stephens are both averaging 7.5 points per game, with McGhee-Pleasant also nabbing four steals and Stephens leading the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Belles have forced their opposition into 35 turnovers.
In Lubbock this weekend, the Belles face stiff competition against a pair of teams that made the NCAA Tournament this past season.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Friday's game (4:30 p.m. tip off) is against Daeman, the 20
th-ranked team in the country. The Wildcats are 1-1 on the season and went 14-3 this past season, making it to the Elite Eight before losing to Lubbock Christian.
The Wildcats are led by Katie Titus' 20 points per game and Mickayla Ivy's 12 points per game. The Wildcats are shooting 41.6 percent from the field and average five more rebounds per game than their opposition, led by Titus' 11 boards per game.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON STORM
Saturday's game (3 p.m. tip-off) will see the Belles go against Southern Nazarene, who won the GAC Championship last season and made the NCAA Tournament before losing to Texas A&M-Commerce in the first round. The Crimson Storm went 12-8 overall and are 1-0 this season due to an 86-38 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Cassandra Awatt and Jaycee Soap are both averaging 15 points per game while Kennedy Gillette is averaging 14 points per game.
