CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Following two home victories this week, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team wraps up three-game homestand on Saturday as Central Arkansas comes to the American Bank Center for a 4:30 p.m. tip.
The Islanders (6-10, 2-3) are just behind the Sugar Bears (10-4, 2-2) in the Southland Conference standings. Saturday will be a battle in the lane, as both teams rank in the top five of the league in blocks and rebounding margin. The Blue and Green is averaging 23.1 points in the paint this season
LAST TIME OUT
Setting a new school record for rebounding margin at +31, the Blue and Green dominated Southeastern Louisiana in a 77-61 victory on Wednesday night in the Dugan Wellness Center.
Brittany Mbamalu put up her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, five of which were on the offensive end.
Emma Young paced the Blue and Green with a career high 17 points, and
Dae Dae Evans and
Tiara Matthews chipped in 23 points together, as the freshman class dropped 46 points on the night.
BIG WINS
>> The Islanders have four wins this season by 15 points or more.
>> The program record for 15-point wins in a season is 11, reached four times, most recently by the 2004-05 squad.
>> Young and Mbamalu are averaging 11.2 and 10.8 points per win, respectively, in victories this season.
>> A&M-Corpus Christi is shooting 47-percent from the field and holding opponents to 32-percent shooting in wins.
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Blue and Green had its share of struggles from the line to start the year. A&M-Corpus Christi has turned the corner, shooting over 70-percent at the stripe over the last four games.
Brittany Mbamalu and
Emma Young lead the team at the charity stripe at 79-percent.
Kassie Jones ranks third all time with a career mark of 80.8-percent.
SERIES HISTORY
>> Entering Saturday's game, the Islanders and Sugar Bears are tied at 6-6, both universities joined the Southland Conference in 2006.
>> A&M-Corpus Christi enjoyed initial success against the Sugar Bears with four straight wins from 2007 to 2010.
>> UCA has been on a roll as of late, winning six of the last eight, including two in a row.
SCOUTING THE SUGAR BEARS
>> The Sugar Bears are 10-4 this season and 2-2 in the Southland Conference, just a half game ahead of the Blue and Green.
>> Offensively, Kierra Jordan leads UCA with 16.3 points per game, while Maggie Proffitt has added a presence from outside at 14.1 points per night.
>> On the glass, the Sugar Bears are averaging 4.4 more rebounds per game than their opponents. At 7.3 boards per night, Raquel Logan ranks eighth in the league.
STAY SOCIAL
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- Go Islanders -
