The Lone Star Conference women's basketball weekly release summarizes the performances of teams in the conference for the week of November 15th, 2017. Tarleton State, Texas Woman's, and West Texas A&M started the season undefeated at 2-0. Desiree Phipps of Texas Woman's was named offensive player of the week after setting career highs, while Deleyah Harris of West Texas A&M was named defensive player of the week for her rebounding and steal contributions to road wins. Several other top performers from the conference are also highlighted for their statistical contributions in the first games of the season.

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, November 15, 2017
Contact: Melanie Robotham, (972) 234-0033 Ext. 103
LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY RELEASE
November 15, 2017
LSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Tarleton State, Texas Woman’s, and West Texas A&M started the season unbeaten at 2-0.
The Lone Star Conference women are 10-13 overall. The women’s squads are currently 5-3 combined against the
Heartland, and 5-9 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
Desiree Phipps, Texas Woman's University, JR, Guard, Ft. Gibson, Okla., Ft. Gibson HS
Phipps set a career-high in points with 11 in a 69-62 win over St. Mary's Friday and then upped it with 15 in a 55-50
victory against Western State. The junior shot over 80-percent from the floor in the wins, including a 6-of-8 showing
from the three-point line. Phipps led the Pioneers in scoring throughout the TexAnn TipOff Classic while playing an
average of 20 minutes.
DEFENSIVE
Deleyah Harris, West Texas A&M University, JR, Guard, Omaha, Nebraska, Benson HS
Harris made an immediate impact this past weekend for the #9 Lady Buffs as the Kirkwood CC transfer led WT to a pair
of road wins at UC-Colorado Springs and Regis to open the 2017-18 season. The Omaha, Nebraska native recorded 15
rebounds (four offensive, 11 defensive), four assists and nine steals to help hold opponents to 43.5 points and a 28.7
field goal percentage. She averaged 11.0 points per game as she went 7-of-12 from the field including 2-of-3 from
behind the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Harris scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds
with six steals in the season opener against UCCS on Friday afternoon followed by an 11-point outing on Saturday at
Regis with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Offensive
N-15 Desiree Phipps, Texas Woman's
Defensive
N-15 Deleyah Harris, West Texas A&M
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS

2. Ava Battese, Cameron University, had a breakout performance in CU's first game against Oklahoma Christian,
scoring 20 points while going 6-12 from the three point line. The sophomore added another 10 points in CU's loss to
Colorado Mesa to give her a 15 points per game average for the opening weekend. Battese knocked down eight triples
in two games and shot over 38 percent from the perimeter.
Ciara Fields, Western New Mexico, led the way with 29 points, averaging 14.5 points per game, along with 4.5
rebounds, a block and three steals, while shooting 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. She
scored in double-figures in both games, going for a high of 16 against Newman. She made 46 percent from the field and
added six rebounds and three steals.
Lexy Hightower, West Texas A&M University, had a great weekend for the No. 9 Lady Buffs as the sophomore guard
led WT to a pair of South Central Regional road wins at UC-Colorado Springs and Regis to open the season 2-0. The
Amarillo product averaged 14.0 points per contest as she went 10-of-26 (38.5%) from the floor including 2-of-8 (25%)
from deep and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to go along with four assist and a steal. Hightower led the Lady
Buffs in scoring during both contests last weekend, dropping 13 points at UC-Colorado Springs in the season opener
followed by a 15 point performance on Saturday at Regis.
Mikaehla Connor, Eastern New Mexico University, paced the team offensively, as they opened the season at the
Fort Lewis Conference Challenge Event. She poured in 16 points in the opener against South Dakota Mines and followed
with a seven-point performance against Fort Lewis. The senior guard had seven rebounds in each game.
McKinley Bostad, Tarleton State University, made herself well-known to the Tarleton faithful as the junior guard
from Kennedale averaged 11.0 points per game over the first two games of the season to lead the TexAnns to a 2-0
start. Bostad made her debut for the purple and white Friday night with a 12-point performance before following up
with 10 against St. Mary's, including a pair of clutch free throws with 10 seconds left to seal Saturday's win against St.
Mary's. For the week, she shot .385 from the floor, .429 from downtown, and .818 at the free throw line. She also had
four assists, four steals, and a block.
Brianna Wise, Texas A&M University - Commerce, scored a career-high 24 points in the Lions' opening game of the
season against Metro State. She got to the free throw line 13 times in the game and got an offensive rebound in the final
seconds to help seal the win for the Lions. She then had seven points against No. 5 CSU-Pueblo in a tough defensive
battle and scored two points against Lubbock Christian. She was also the lead distrubutor on the team, dishing out six
assists and averaged 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals.
Lejha Smith, Cameron University, was an impact player for the Aggies as they split their opening games on the 2017-
18 season. The junior transfer averaged 13.5 rebounds and 11 points per contest while totaling eight blocks in her first
two games in the black and gold. Smith started the season off with a 12 point, 19 rebound, six block performance in the
win over Oklahoma Christian. Her 19 rebounds was the most by a CU player since 2014.
Mackenzie Hailey, Tarleton State University, dominated the glass for Tarleton as the sophomore grabbed 17
rebounds in two games to lead the TexAnns to a 2-0 start. She recorded her first double-double of the season Saturday
against St. Mary's as her 10-point, 13-rebound effort delivered Tarleton a victory over the Rattlers. For the week, she
also had four assists and a team-high seven steals. The Hailey-led defense held opponents to only 53.0 points per game
over the first two contests.
Alexis Nezianya, Texas Woman's University, opened the 2017-18 season by posting a double-double with 12 points
and a game-high 13 rebounds in a 69-62 win over St. Mary's at the TexAnn TipOff Classic. The senior grabbed seven
boards and scored seven points in limited minutes in a 55-50 victory over Western State. In the two contests, Nezianya
nearly averaged a double-double with 10 rebounds and 9.5 points on 62-percent shooting from the field while also
contributing four blocks, three assists and two steals.
Melanie Ransom, Texas A&M University - Commerce, averaged 7.0 rebounds per game and had three steals and two
blocks on the defensive end for the Lions last week. She had a block and a steal in the Lions' 70-67 win over Metro State
to open the season. She then pulled in 12 rebounds against No. 5 Colorado State-Pueblo and had a steal in a defensive

3. battle that the Lions could not pull out. Ransom then had 10 points and seven rebounds against Lubbock Christian, also
recording a steal and a block.
Daeshi McCants, Eastern New Mexico University, led a strong defensive effort as the Greyhounds opened the
season last week. The Hounds defense limited South Dakota Mines to just .200 from three-point range, before holding
Fort Lewis to just one trey for the game. McCants' five blocked shots and three steals were a major part of ENMU's
defensive efforts, as was her 5.0 defensive rebounds per game.
Ashton Carrasco, Western New Mexico, sent back three blocks, tallied a steal and pulled down 10 rebounds in
playing 37 minutes in the two games. She also scored six points against Newman. She had two blocks in that same game
and grabbed six rebounds.
LSC NOTES (Submitted by LSC SID’s)
Angelo State
Did not play last week.
Cameron
The Cameron women split their opening weekend, winning 96-95 over Oklahoma Christian but falling 49-58 to Colorado
Mesa in Wichita Falls, Texas. Ava Battese totaled 30 points between both contests while Lejha Smith totaled 22 points
and had a double-double on Friday with 12 points and 19 boards. Amaka Nwakamma totaled 27 points, and against the
Eagles, finished just shy of a triple-double with 16 points, nine assists and seven boards. On Saturday versus the
Mavericks, Nwakamma had seven steals.
Eastern New Mexico
The Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team opened the 2017-18 season last weekend at the Fort Lewis
Conference Challenge. Over the two games, senior guard Mikaehla Connor paced the Greyhounds with 11 points and
seven rebounds. Daeshi McCants also had a strong weekend with seven points and 6.5 boards per game. Shelby Jones
had a nine-point, 12-rebound performance against Fort Lewis. This week, ENMU will visit Colorado State in exhibition
action, before they visit cross-state rival, New Mexico Highlands.
Midwestern State
1-1 last week.
Tarleton State
Tarleton went 2-0 after sweeping its home tournament and will travel to Denton this weekend.
Texas A&M-Commerce
For the third time in as many seasons, the Lions opened up their season with a tournament against Metro State and
CSU-Pueblo. This year, the teams met in Commerce. Once again, the Lions were able to defeat MSU-Denver, this time by
a score of 70-67. The Lions then had a strong first quarter but then became cold from the field against No. 5 CSU-Pueblo,
falling 55-52. Their shooting woes continued against Lubbock Christian on Monday as the Lions fell 74-39. The Lions face
St. Edward's on Saturday in Austin.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
1-2 last week.
Texas Woman’s

4. TWU opened the 2017-18 season with wins over St. Mary's and Western State at the TexAnn TipOff Classic.
UT Permian Basin
UT Permian Basin women's basketball started the 2017-18 season 0-3, falling against #22 Fort Lewis 67-85, South Dakota
Mines 72-78, and New Mexico State 58-85. The Falcons led in the first half of each of their first two games but struggled
after halftime of both. Khali Pippins-Tyron leads the UTPB offense, averaging 15.7 ppg, including scoring 32 against #22
Fort Lewis.
West Texas A&M
The No. 9 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M started off the 2017-18 season on a high note this past weekend as they picked
up a pair of big South Central Region road wins at UC-Colorado Springs and Regis on opening weekend. WT was led
offensively by Lexy Hightower (14.0 ppg) and Deleyah Harris (11.0 ppg) while CeCe Wooten chipped in 10 points and 4.5
rebounds per contest. The Lady Buffs shot 42.5% from the floor in the pair of wins with 76 rebounds (38.0/game), 22
assists, eight blocks and 22 steals. The Lady Buffs open up their 2017-18 home schedule on Thursday night as they host
the Drovers of Science & Arts with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
Western New Mexico
WNMU nearly won their season opener against Rogers State before the Hillcats held off a second half surge to claim the
win. Newman came out strong in the second game and although the Lady Mustangs played even after the first quarter,
the first 10 minutes was too much to overcome. Ciara Fields and Rachel Francisco powered the offense as they
combined for 51 points. Takiyah Lopez and Ashton Carrasco had double-digit rebounds, while Carrasco sent back three
blocks and Melody McLaughlin had five steals. Fields led the way with 29 points, averaging 14.5 points per game, along
with 4.5 rebounds, a block and three steals, while shooting 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point
range. She scored in double-figures in both games, going for a high of 16 against Newman. She made 46 percent from
the field and added six rebounds and three steals. Carrasco sent back three blocks, tallied a steal and pulled down 10
rebounds in playing 37 minutes in the two games. She also scored six points against Newman. She had two blocks in that
same game and grabbed six rebounds.
# LSC #