Courtesy Lyon College Athletic Department
BATESVILLE, Ark. – Some of the best women’s basketball talent in the nation will be in Batesville next week when the Scots host the Lyon College Classic women’s basketball tournament. The main event of the two-day round robin event on Dec. 28-29 in James C. Becknell Gymnasium is a matchup between No. 1-ranked Lubbock Christian University against No. 23 Lyon College on Saturday.
There are four games scheduled. On Friday, Williams Baptist College will square off against Lubbock Christian at 5:30 p.m., followed by a matchup between the Scots and 28th-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University at 7:30 p.m. OBU will then tangle with Williams Baptist on Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by the showdown with Lyon and LCU at 3 p.m.
Lyon College enters the tournament with an 8-1 season record, riding a four-game winning streak. The Scots, a team that qualified for the NAIA National Tournament a year ago, opened the season by receiving votes for the preseason Top 25 poll. In the first regular season poll, Lyon jumped up to the 23rd spot, and they stayed there when the second regular season poll was released last week.
The Scots currently have five players averaging more than eight points per game. Senior Debbie Onukwube (Little Rock, Ark.) is the top scorer on the squad, throwing in 12.7 points a contest, followed by 2011-12 All-American Phagen Altom (Bald Knob, Ark.), who is averaging 10.9 ppg. Senior Chris Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 ppg., while senior Suzanne Fincham (Royal, Ark.) sits at 10.4 ppg. Sophomore Whitney Keith (Jonesboro, Ark.) recorded her first career double-double last week and is averaging 8.4 ppg. on the year, throwing in 36 points in her last two contests.
Altom is the leading rebounder on the Lyon squad, averaging 6.8 boards per contest, with Keith second with a 5.7 average.
The Scots are currently ranked No. 8 nationally in total defensive rebound defense (31.8) and 24th in the nation in turnover margin (3.4) and steals per game (11.6). Smith ranks 24th in 3-point field goal percentage (42.5%), Onukwube ranks 46th in field goal percentage (46.6%), while Altom ranks 47th in steals per game (2.4).
Lubbock Christian University is unbeaten on the season, sporting a 12-0 mark. The Lady Chaparrals are no stranger to the national poll. LCU began the season as the top-ranked team and hasn’t budged since. The Lady Chaps have been ranked in the Top 10 nationally in 10 straight polls.
LCU ranks No.1 in assists per game (20.8), scoring offense per game (88.7) and field goal percentage (53.5%), while earning a No. 2 ranking in free throw percentage (80%), total assists (250) and 3-point field goal percentage (41.6%).
The Lady Chaps have scored at least 90 points six times this season and have scored 80 or more points in 10 of the team’s 12 games.
Lubbock Christian is led in scoring by Emily Akins’ 13.2 ppg. average, while Kelsey Canavan is second with a 12.9 mark and Haley Burton is throwing in 12.8 per contest. Six players on the Lady Chaparrals’ roster are averaging in double-figure scoring and eight players are hitting over 50% of their field goals.
The Lady Chaps are averaging 43.7 rebounds per contest, led by Nicole Hampton’s 8.5 boards per game.
Oklahoma Baptist University is 7-2 on the year and has won seven of its last eight games. The Lady Bison had a seven-game winning streak snapped the last time out when they dropped a 55-39 decision to Westminster (Utah). OBU is ranked 28th nationally.
Oklahoma Baptist is ranked No. 1 in the nation in blocked shots per game (5.2) and field goal percentage defense (27.5%), while earning a No. 2 ranking in defensive rebounds per game (32.8) and No. 3 in 3-point field goals per game (9.0), assists per game (19.0), total rebounds per game (48.6), scoring margin (32.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (38.6%).
Charity Fowler is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points per contest, while Zbeyda Aremi is second at 12.4, Janell Beacham is third at 12.2 and Bretlin Gabelmann is fourth with a 10.3 ppg average.
Three Lady Bison are averaging more than six rebounds per contest, led by Aremi, who is hauling in 6.7 per contest.
Williams Baptist College is currently 6-4 on the year and is the only squad of the four that is not ranked. The Lady Eagles have won three of their last five contests, but have dropped consecutive games to Blue Mountain College (64-61) and Philander Smith College (67-43).
Cheyenne Childers is the only WBC player currently averaging in double-figure scoring, throwing in 11.1 per outing. Kimberly Wise is scoring 7.9 and Meagan Goza stands at 6.6.
Childers is also the leading rebounder on the squad, hauling in 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Williams Baptist is ranked No. 1 nationally in defensive rebounds per game (33.1) and total rebounds per contest (49.3), while earning a No. 2 ranking in total rebound margin (13.7).
Lyon College will use the tournament to get tuned up for the opening of American Midwest Conference action, as the Scots travel to Harris-Stowe State University on Jan. 3 (5:30 p.m.) before hosting Williams Baptist on Jan. 5 (2 p.m.).
LYON COLLEGE CLASSIC
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