CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Tipping off a three-game homestand to close out the regular season, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team returns to the Coastal Bend to face McNeese on Saturday for an early 11:30 a.m. tilt.
The Islanders (9-17, 5-10) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid, after a late rally fell short on Wednesday night at Abilene Christian. Down by 11 in the second half,
Ashanti Plummer and
Dae Dae Evans sparked a comeback by scoring 27 of the Islanders' 35 second-half points.
Abilene Christian pulled away for a 72-64 win with a trio of late 3-pointers, after the Blue and Green tied it up with five minutes to play in the fourth.
NOTING THE ISLANDERS
>> Corpus Christi is the league leader in blocks and ranks 89th in the country.
>> The Blue and Green is 4-1 and 9-3 when holding opponents under 60 points and 40-percent shooting, respectively.
>> Corpus Christi has turned it on in the second half this season. The Islanders have scored 95 more points in the final 20 minutes than the first half.
>> The Islanders have outscored opponents in the opening 10 minutes of Southland Conference games 14.2 to 13.3.
CLOSING STRONG
>> The Islanders have had a three-game homestand to close out the regular season on two other occasions, both of which ended 3-0.
>>
Brittany Mbamalu can break the all-time 3-point record of 209 with just nine more long balls. The redshirt-junior is 33-percent shooter from the arc for her career.
>> A&M-Corpus Christi can set the school record for single-season blocks. The Islanders are nine swats away from eclipsing the 113 set during the 2003-04 season.
FOR THE KIDS
Saturday will be Camper Appreciation Day for the Islanders. All campers from 2016 that wear their camp t-shirt will receive a free ticket to the game. Last year, the Blue and Green had one of its most successful camps with over 150 girls participating.
Since head coach
Royce Chadwick's arrival on the Island, over 650 young ladies have taken part in the Islanders Women's Basketball Camps.
SERIES HISTORY
>> This season marks the fourth straight year that the Islanders and McNeese have played once during the regular season.
>> McNeese holds the series lead at 6-5. Home court advantage has played a major role, as both teams are 5-0 when playing at home.
>> The Cowgirls topped the Blue and Green 72-51 in Lake Charles last season.
SCOUT SAYS
>> At 12-14 and 7-8 in conference play, McNeese is in fifth in the league standings.
>> Victoria Rachal and Amer Donnes are averaging 11.1 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.
>> The Cowgirls rank first in the Southland Conference in rebounding with 42.5 boards per game, as well as 3-point defense, holding opponents to 29-percent from the arc.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information surrounding Islanders women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@IslandersWBB) and like the team on Facebook (Islanders Women's Basketball).
- Go Islanders -
