Women's basketball back south to battle A&M-Corpus Christi

ABILENE - Abilene Christian's women's basketball team headed to southern Texas for the second time in less than a week Tuesday to begin preparations for its Feb. 1 game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Tip off is from the American Bank Center is 5:30 p.m.

Wildcat fans can follow live stats or watch a video stream via GoIslanders.com or listen in Abilene on 98.1 FM – The Ticket.

Both of ACU's games last season vs. the Islanders were fairly memorable. The Wildcats' first game against Corpus Christi last season came only three days after then-junior Lizzy Dimba was lost to a season-ending injury. This was the first game ACU played without Lizzy in its lineup, but the Wildcats held on for a 71-65 win thanks to 25 points from her twin sister, Suzzy, plus a 16-point / 11-rebound double-double from Sydney Shelstead. Guards Alexis Mason and Whitney West Swinford combined for 30 points as the four Wildcat veterans totaled all 71 points.

The two teams squared off again less than a month later in the season finale held at Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats jumped out to a 9-0 lead en route to a 63-52 victory and the program's first Southland Conference season regular-season championship. Mason scored 20 points as part of her Player of the Year resume, while Shelstead had 19 and Suzzy Dimba had 10 with nine rebounds.

ACU (13-7) enters this game in a tie for first place in the Southland with Stephen F. Austin at 7-1 following last Saturday's 77-65 wire-to-wire win vs. McNeese. Incredibly, the Wildcats recorded assists on 24 of 29 field goals (82.8 percent) for its second highest total of the season. They had 25 assists on 40 field goals in a late December game vs. Sul Ross.

Lizzy Dimba set a career single game high with eight assists, while sophomore Sara Williamson dished out seven in 12 minutes off the bench. Sydney Shelstead was the most popular target on ACU's pass-efficient afternoon as she hit 8 of 9 field goals from inside the paint to total 21 points. She also pulled down 13 rebounds for her 24th career double-double and blocked a career high four shots. These efforts earned her honorable mention for Southland Conference Player of the Week.

The Islander (8-12) have won four of their last six conference games in improving to 4-5 vs. the league. After starting conference play with three straight losses to New Orleans, Nicholls and SFA, the Islanders bounced back with wins against Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana and Sam Houston State. They then won their rematch at home vs. the Colonels, 65-60.

Brittany Mbamalu leads the Islanders in scoring with 10.2 points per game, while Camesha Davis is their top defensive player with 6.4 rebounds per gam, 25 blocks and 22 steals.