Women's Hoops Heads to Las Cruces for Weekend Thanksgiving Tournament
/ November 25, 2015
Game Information:
Opponent: Long Beach State (Friday, Nov. 27/3:00 p.m.)
Opponent: New Mexico State (Saturday, Nov. 28/7:00 p.m.)
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
GAME NOTES (PDF)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona women's basketball team was thankful to get their first win out of the way this past Sunday, but they hope even bigger victories await them this weekend at the Aggie Thanksgiving Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M. The holiday tournament will provide the Lumberjacks with tall tasks as they prepare to face a pair of teams, Long Beach State and host New Mexico State, who played in the national postseason a season ago.
NAU (1-2) will start the tournament with WNIT participant Long Beach State on Friday at 3 p.m., before concluding the weekend on Saturday at 7 p.m. versus New Mexico State, an NCAA Tournament team this past spring. Both games will be played at NMSU's Pan American Center.
Follow the Action:
Sue Darling's Thoughts: "What I like about Long Beach State and New Mexico State is that they're quality programs. Last year, they were what we want to be. They're coming off historical years where they won 20 games each and that's our next step. In order to make that next step, we need to play these types of teams. Playing these two teams are gifts to ourselves because it's going to help us be the team we want to be and we're excited about the opportunity especially coming off our game versus Lamar."
Previewing The 'Jacks: The Lumberjacks are coming off their first win of the season on Sunday, 75-63, over preseason Southland Conference favorite, Lamar. Junior Rene Coggins scored a game-high 19 points, including 12 points in a furious 31-point start by NAU, and is averaging 11.3 points per game. Freshman Alyssa Rader and junior Brittani Lusain logged double-doubles in the victory. NAU outrebounded Lamar by 20 and shot a season-best 51.6 percent from the floor. Rader leads the team in both scoring and rebounding at 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. As a team, NAU is averaging 64.3 points per game and outrebounding its opponents by over four boards a game.
Scouting Long Beach State: Long Beach State started the season at 3-0, but carries a 3-1 record into the holiday tournament after a close six-point loss on the road at LSU. The 49ers, a WNIT team a year ago, finished last season with a 22-10 record. Jewelyn Sawyer is the team's leading scorer and rebounder at 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Raven Benton, a preseason all-conference pick, is averaging 11.3 points per game and leads the team with 16 assists. Long Beach State is forcing over 20 turnovers per game and is allowing just 56.2 points per game.
Scouting New Mexico State: New Mexico State is a perfect 4-0 this season and already owns two wins against Big Sky opponents - Sacramento State and Southern Utah - on its home court. The Aggies won their first WAC Championship last season with a 22-8 overall record and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The preseason favorites to repeat as champions, New Mexico State is averaging 77.8 points per game. Brianna Freeman, this year's Preseason Player of the Year and last year's recipient, is averaging 11.0 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game. Tamera William leads New Mexico State with 14.0 points per game.
Series History:
- NAU and Long Beach State will be meeting for the fourth time in school history. Long Beach State leads the all-time series 2-1. Long Beach State won the last meeting, 62-47, on Dec. 18, 2003 at home.
- NAU and New Mexico State will be meeting for the 19th time in school history. New Mexico State leads the all-time series 14-4. NAU won the last meeting, 61-46, on Nov. 19, 2005 in Las Cruces.
The Inbounds Pass:
- The Lumberjacks were picked eighth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll and ninth in the Big Sky Preseason Media Poll.
- Alyssa Rader leads the Big Sky Conference with three double-doubles, all achieved in her first three collegiate games.
- Brittani Lusain and Rader are two of four players in the conference with multiple double-doubles this season.
- Lusain leads the conference with 5.3 assists per game.
- Shay Young ranks third in the conference in free throw percentage at .909.
- Rene Coggins is tied for first in the conference at 36.0 minutes played per game.
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