Lone Star Conference Women's Basketball Weekly Release (12/20/17)

1. Angelo State | Cameron | Eastern New Mexico | Midwestern State | Tarleton State | Texas A&M-Commerce
Texas A&M-Kingsville | Texas Woman’s | UT Permian Basin | West Texas A&M | Western New Mexico
www.lonestarconference.org | 1221 W. Campbell Rd. Suite 171, Richardson, Texas 75080 | Phone: 972-234-0033 | Fax: 972-234-4110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Contact: Melanie Robotham, (972) 234-0033 Ext. 103
LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY RELEASE
December 20, 2017
LSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
West Texas A&M remains unbeaten this season at 11-0 overall and 4-0 in Lone Star Conference games. Midwestern
State is also undefeated in league play at 4-0.
All LSC teams are off from December 20-26 for the NCAA Division Winter Break with games resuming on Dec. 29.
The LSC women are 58-59 overall. The women’s squads are currently 18-14 combined against the Heartland, and 10-
12 versus RMAC teams, which are the other conferences in the NCAA South Central Region.
LSC schedule and results available here: http://www.lonestarconference.org/calendar.aspx?path=wbball&&
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Lexy Hightower, West Texas A&M University, SO, Guard, Amarillo, Texas, Amarillo
Hightower had a monster holiday road trip for the No. 3 Lady Buffs as the sophomore was named the Most Valuable
Player of the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic in wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington as WT moved to 11-0
overall. The Amarillo product went 16-of-30 (53.3%) from the floor including an incredible 10-of-15 (66.7%) from behind
the arc to average 21.0 points per contest. Hightower set a new career high with 21 points on Monday night against
Simon Fraser followed by another 21-point outing on Tuesday against the host Vikings.
DEFENSIVE
De'Anira Moore, Angelo State University, SO, Forward, Allen, Texas, Allen
Moore helped the Belles to a 2-0 record at the Daytona Beach Classic by helping limit opponents to 52.5 points per game
on 29.4 percent shooting. The sophomore averaged a double-double with 15.0 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per
game. She grabbed 14 offensive and 12 defensive rebounds while also contributing six blocks to the defensive efforts.
She added her sixth and seventh double-double of the season in the wins over St. Edward's and Illinois Springfield.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
N-15 Desiree Phipps, Texas Woman's
N-21 Brianna Wise, Texas A&M-Commerce
N-27 Madison Parker, West Texas A&M
D-4 Brianna Wise, Texas A&M-Commerce (2)
D-11 Whitney Taylor, Midwestern State
D-20 Lexy Hightower, West Texas A&M

2. Defensive
N-15 Deleyah Harris, West Texas A&M
N-21 Artaejah Gay, Texas A&M-Commerce
N-27 De'Anira Moore, Angelo State
D-4 Lejha Smith, Cameron
D-11 Marquita Daniels, Angelo State
D-20 De'Anira Moore, Angelo State (2)
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Jamie Bonnarens, Cameron University, recorded a pair of double-doubles this past week with 20 points and 14
rebounds against Lubbock Christian and 27 points and 13 rebounds against No. 23 Central Oklahoma. The sophomore
shot almost 38 percent from the field while missing just one of her 11 free throw attempts. Bonnarens currently leads
CU and the LSC in scoring at 18.4 points per game.
Alexis Nezianya, Texas Woman's University, recorded her fifth double-double of the season with game-highs of 18
points and 11 rebounds against Northeastern State Tuesday night. The senior collected 11 points in the third quarter,
including two three-point plays, to fuel a comeback for TWU. Nezianya shot over 60-percent from the field and also
added three steals.
Artaejah Gay, Texas A&M University-Commerce, had 16 points in the Lions' two-point overtime loss to St. Mary's. In
the game she moved from ninth place to seventh place all-time in field goals made in program history. She played a
career-high 39 minutes in the contest. Gay has scored in double figures in eight games so far this season. She is fifth in
scoring, third in field goal percentage and seventh in blocked shots.
Ciara Fields, Western New Mexico, paced the team both on the offensive and defensive ends as she averaged nearly
15 points and pulled down almost five rebounds per game in the three contests. She reached double-figures in all three
games going for a high of 18 against Arizona Christian. She shot well from the field in that game making 7-12 and 3-5
from three. She grabbed a high in rebounds with six versus Benedictine at Mesa while adding 14 points and two steals.
Fields shot well from the free throw line making 16-18. She ended up leading the team in both points and rebounds for
the week.
Ekiya Gray, Angelo State University, helped lead ASU to a 2-0 record at the Daytona Beach Classic by scoring double
figures in her first two games of the season. The senior scored 14 points against regional foe St. Edward's and followed it
up with 15 versus Illinois Springfield in 18.5 minutes per game. She made 47.1 percent from the field and was able to get
make 12-of-17 from the charity stripe.
McKinley Bostad, Tarleton State University, enjoyed one of the best weeks of her Tarleton career while leading the
TexAnns to a pair of wins, including a big regional road win over Arkansas-Fort Smith last weekend. Bostad scored a
career high 20 points at Fort Smith to lead Tarleton to a 67-63 victory over the Lions. For the week, Bostad averaged
14.5 points per game and shot .571 from the floor, including a .375 mark from downtown. She also sparked the offense
with five assists for the week.
Daeshi McCants, Eastern New Mexico University, paced the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball
team with 14 points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's win at St. Mary's. Eight of her 14 points came in the second half of
the Greyhounds' seven-point win. McCants' 14 rebounds limited the Rattlers opportunities and fueled her third double
double of the season.
Mikaehla Connor, Eastern New Mexico University, fueled a strong defensive performance which helped limit St.
Mary's to 45 points on .268 shooting. Her seven defensive rebounds and two blocked shots were a strong contribution
to Eastern's victory. Connor's play helped limit the Rattlers to 15.4 percent from the floor in the third quarter and 25
percent in the fourth. SMU was limited to just seven points in the first and third quarters.

3. Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton State University, was a force on the defensive end of the floor for the TexAnns as she led
Tarleton to back-to-back wins, including a big regional road win at UAFS. In last Saturday's road game against the Lions,
Hailey grabbed six rebounds but none bigger than her final one. After scoring the go-ahead layup on the offensive end to
put Tarleton up 65-63, UAFS missed its go-ahead three-point try with eight seconds left and Hailey hauled in the
defensive board to seal the game. She was fouled on the rebound and sank two free throws on the other end to put the
game out of reach. She followed up with a double-double performance Monday night in Tarleton's highest-scoring game
of the season as she scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 104-52 win over Arlington Baptist. For the week,
Hailey scored a team high 35 points, grabbed a team high 17 rebounds, and blocked a team high three shots while
anchoring a Tarleton defense that outscored its opponents by 28.0 points and held them to just 57.5 points per game on
.347 shooting from the floor.
Melanie Ransom, Texas A&M University-Commerce, had a block and two steals against St. Mary's, including a steal
with four seconds left that set up the Lions' final basket to force overtime. She also had eight points, five rebounds and
three assists in the game.
Tiana Parker, West Texas A&M University, continued to impress for the No. 3 Lady Buffs as the Chehalis,
Washington native was named to the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team as WT moved to 11-0 with wins
over Simon Fraser and Western Washington. The Tennessee State transfer went 13-of-21 (61.9%) from the floor
including 3-of-6 (50%) from the free throw line to average 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest while registering
seven assists, three blocks and four steals. Parker tallied a career high 18 points on Monday night against Simon Fraser
with seven rebounds followed by an 11-point outing in Tuesday's tournament finale against the host Vikings.
Whitney Apari, Texas Woman's University, notched her first double-double as a Pioneer with 11 points and 10
rebounds against Northeastern State. The senior also added two assists, a block and a steal.
Ciara Fields, Western New Mexico, paced the team both on the offensive and defensive ends as she averaged nearly
15 points and pulled down almost five rebounds per game in the three contests. She reached double-figures in all three
games going for a high of 18 against Arizona Christian. She shot well from the field in that game making 7-12 and 3-5
from three. She grabbed a high in rebounds with six versus Benedictine at Mesa while adding 14 points and two steals.
Fields shot well from the free throw line making 16-18. She ended up leading the team in both points and rebounds for
the week.
LSC NOTES (Submitted by LSC SID’s)
Angelo State
2-0 last week.
Cameron
The Aggies went 0-2 this past week falling to non-conference opponents Lubbock Christian and No. 23 Central
Oklahoma. Jamie Bonnarens averaged a double-double with 23.5 points and 13.5 rebounds during the two game span.
Eastern New Mexico
With a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter at St. Mary's, Brandi Gomez's steal and free throws helped the
Greyhounds avoid a third straight overtime and post a 52-45 win. Daeshi McCants propelled ENMU offensively with her
third double double of the season. Mikaehla Connor led the Greyhound defensive effort with right rebounds, two
blocked shots and a steal. Defensively, the Hounds had two quarters in the game in which they matched a season-best
with just seven points allowed. On December 30, ENMU will host Lubbock Christian.
Midwestern State
1-0 last week.

4. Tarleton State
Tarleton won two games last week to improve to 6-5 heading into the Christmas break. The TexAnns will return to action
Saturday, December 30 against Southeastern Oklahoma at 2 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.
Texas A&M-Commerce
The Lions lost an overtime game against St. Mary's this week. They will face UT San Antonio in an exhibition game on
Dec. 29 before returning to action against A&M-Kingsville on Jan. 4 in Commerce.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
0-1 last week.
Texas Woman’s
TWU dropped a 66-58 decision to Northeastern State Tuesday.
UT Permian Basin
UT Permian Basin split a pair of non-conference games this past week, falling at home 62-45 against St. Edward's and
winning 81-61 at Sul Ross. Khali Pippins-Tryon led the Falcons in scoring, hitting double figures with 14 points against St.
Edward's and 13 in the win over the Lobos. Kayla Bretherton added a team-high 21 points in the win over Sul Ross.
West Texas A&M
The No. 3 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M continued their hot start to the 2017-18 campaign this past week as they
moved to a perfect 11-0 with wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington during the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic
in Bellingham, Washington. WT went an incredible 64-of-110 (.582) from the field including 12-of-25 (.480) from deep
as they averaged 78.0 points and 36.0 rebounds per contest while allowing just 60.5 points per game. The Lady Buffs
now head into the mandatory NCAA holiday break before hosting University of the Southwest on Friday, December 29
with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
Western New Mexico
Following a pair of tough games against Arizona Christian and Benedictine at Mesa, the Lady Mustangs came out firing
against Embry Riddle putting up 28 points in the first quarter. After the teams were tied at both halftime and after three,
the Eagles were able to pull away for the 11-point win. Ciara Fields led both the offense and defense, while Takiyah
Lopez and Rachel Francisco averaged in double-figures in scoring. Fields paced the team both on the offensive and
defensive ends as she averaged nearly 15 points and pulled down almost five rebounds per game in the three contests.
She reached double-figures in all three games going for a high of 18 against Arizona Christian. She shot well from the
field in that game making 7-12 and 3-5 from three. She grabbed a high in rebounds with six versus Benedictine at Mesa
while adding 14 points and two steals. Fields shot well from the free throw line making 16-18. She ended up leading the
team in both points and rebounds for the week.
# LSC #