ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd women's basketball team looks to extend its five-game winning streak this weekend as the Tritons head to Lakeland to compete in the Terrace Hotel Classic hosted by Florida Southern.
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ABOUT AUM: The Warhawks, a program in the midst of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II, have experienced growing pains this season. Â AUM (1-11) enters the weekend having lost nine straight games, all against south region opponents. Â The team has played plenty of low-scoring affairs and averages just 55.2 points per game, hampered by a 34.8 field-goal percentage. Â Grace Farnsworth has been AUM's most reliable scorer, averaging 9.8 points per game.
ABOUT WEST TEXAS A&M: The Buffs enter the weekend ranked No. 25 in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll after reaching as high as No. 7 earlier in the season. Â The team has lost two of its last three games and opens the weekend taking on No. 16 Florida Southern on Friday. Â Sasha Watson leads the team in scoring with 14.6 points per game and in assists with 4.6 per game. Â Alie Decker is the only other Buff averaging in double-figures at 12.1 points per game. Â One of the team's biggest strengths is shooting as the Buffs connect on 48.6 percent of their field goal attempts.
ON A ROLL: The Tritons enter the weekend riding a five-game winning streak and sharing the top spot in the Sunshine State Conference with Florida Southern with matching 4-0 conference records. Â During the streak, Eckerd boasts a scoring margin of plus-30.2 and is shooting 52.2 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from 3-point range.
DO IT WITH DEFENSE: Eckerd continues to rank among the top teams in the SSC in several defensive categories. Â The Tritons are tied for second in scoring defense (55.4 points per game) and lead the SSC in opponent field goal percentage (35.2) and steals per game (12.2). Â Three of the five conference defensive player of the week award winners have come from Eckerd.
