CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Returning to the American Bank Center to cap a three-game homestand, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team will host UTRGV at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the first meeting of this year's South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union.
The South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union, is an annual rivalry series in which Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV compete against each other in 12 sports, including twice in basketball. The Islanders lead the all-time series 5-2.
It will also be a celebration of the 2023 Southland Conference regular season championship squad, as A&M-Corpus Christi will unveil its SLC Championship banner and WNIT Tournament banner prior to tip-off. Furthermore, A&M-Corpus Christi announced $1 tickets to each game. For tickets call 361-825-BALL (2255) or visit the American Bank Center ticket windows.
The Islanders are coming off a 19-12 season that saw their second SLC regular season championship title in four years and a trip to the WNIT where they faced Wyoming in the first round. It was the program's first postseason appearance since 2005 when they went to the WNIT as a Division I Independent.
The game will also conclude a three-game homestand for the Islanders, who opened it with a 60-52 win over Texas State in the first game played at the American Bank Center this year. It will be the second of four home games to be played in the month of December.
Junior
Tymberlin Criswell is coming off consecutive double figure scoring games, including a career day of 17 points off five made field goals against Texas State. She is one of five players this year to record multiple 10+ scoring games.
Graduate
Alecia Westbrook leads the team with 9.9 points per outing, as well as topping the Southland Conference in rebounding (7.1 rpg). She has led the league in rebounding for three years in a row. Also atop the conference rankings is junior
Nabaweeyah McGill who averages 1.6 blocks per game.
Westbrook is the eighth active career leader in all of the NCAA for rebounds with 972. She comes in right behind Angel Reese of LSU (1,035). Westbrook is on track to become the eighth active player in the NCAA to reach 1,000 career rebounds.
As a team, the Islanders lead the league in blocked shots, averaging 4.14 per game. They rank second in team offensive rebounds (14.0 orpg), assists/turnover ratio (0.95), and steals (11.0 spg).
UTRGV (0-7) has yet to capture its first win of the season, dropping narrow decisions to both Texas State and Florida International. Though, they are led by the offensive prowess of Iyana Dorsey who has scored 20+ points in four of the last five games.
The game can be watched live with a subscription to ESPN+. Doug Kesterson will be on the call.
NOTES
- It will be the 42nd all-time meeting between A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV. The Islanders lead the series 27-17 and is 15-7 at home against the Vaqueros. The teams have split the last 10 meetings 5-5.
- The teams split last year's series, both winning at home. The Islanders will be going for a second consecutive win over UTRGV after winning the last meeting 65-58 at home. In the win, Westbrook recorded a 17-point, 16-rebound double-double. Her 16 rebounds matched her career high.
- The Islanders are 3-2 at home so far this season, 228-150 all-time at home, and 96-75 at the American Bank Center. They have won at least 10 home games in both of the last two seasons.
- A&M-Corpus Christi has scored at least 50 points in every game so far this season. It is the first time since the 2021-22 season when the Islanders scored at least 50 points in the first six games of the season after they scored at least 50 in the first eight games.
- In addition to her career rebounding, Westbrook finds her name in the active career leader list in free throw attempts (10th, 591), free throws made (11th, 443), and double-doubles (23rd, 36). She has broken the program records for career free throws made, career free throws attempted, career defensive rebounds, and career double[1]doubles last year alone and is chasing the program's career record of total rebounds, total points, and minutes played.
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@IslandersWBB).
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