Lady Lions Look To End Skid Against Lady Jets

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Athletics Department

The UAFS Lady Lions will look to end a two-game losing streak and stay in the hunt for one of the four spots in the Heartland Conference Tournament going into the second half of the league race on Saturday when they host the Newman University Lady Jets.

Tip-off will be 2 p.m. for the women’s game and 4 p.m. for the men’s game at the Stubblefield Center. Live statistics and webcast will be available by visiting the UAFS athletics website (www.uafortsmithlions.com). The game will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com

UAFS (5-12, 1-4) is one of four teams in fourth place with four conference losses along with Texas A&M International (5-12, 2-4), Newman (6-11, 1-4) and OPSU (4-12, 1-4).

It will be the eighth encounter between UAFS and Newman in the all-time series, which UAFS leads 4-3. The Lady Lions, who are 3-0 against Newman at the Stubblefield Center, lost to the Lady Jets in last year’s conference tournament championship game.

UAFS is averaging 66 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior forward Katie BenAmor (13.3) and junior post Angi Ramey (11.7). Opponents are out-rebounding the Lady Lions by almost 1 rebound per game (46.4-45.5). Ramey leads the team with 10.2 rebounds per game.

The Lady Lions are allowing 70 points per game and forcing more than 16 turnovers per game. Freshman guard Brittany Holbert leads the team with 29 steals, while Ramey leads the team with 43 blocks.

Newman has lost four of its past five games and is coming off a 76-68 road loss at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The Lady Jets are averaging 65 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior guard Kianna Flannagan (13.8) and freshman guard/forward Alexandra Ciabattoni (13.1).

Opponents are out-rebounding the Lady Jets by 3 rebounds per game (41.8-38.8). Ciabattoni leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per game. Newman is allowing 70 points per game and forcing more than 17 turnovers per game. Ciabattoni leads the team with 24 steals and 8 blocks.