No. 8 Tiger Women's Basketball takes their bouts against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponents when they take on Southwestern and Texas Lutheran this weekend.
 
The Tigers (4-1) lost a nail-biter last Saturday against the seventh-ranked Hardin-Simmons 88-92 in overtime. Despite the loss, the Tigers had four players in double-digit scoring. Natalie Anderson (San Jose, California / Archbishop Mitty) notched a near double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. Maggie Robbins (Plano, Texas / Plano) scored 19 points while Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) put in 17 points. Finally, Jamie Ruede (Pipe Creek, Texas / Boerne) went 6-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from three to collect 14 total points. The Tigers forced 18 total turnovers and shot 49% from the field for the entire game. 
 
WBCA Rankings
 
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association has ranked the Tigers at eighth nationally. Transylvania and NYU sit in the top two spots. Region X rival Hardin-Simmons jumps to the sixth spot and Mary Hardin-Baylor is receiving votes.
 
Preview - SCAC Opponents
 
The Tigers will open up SCAC play by traveling to Georgetown to play against Southwestern on Friday, December 1st at 7:30 PM. Then, the Tigers will head to Seguin to take on Texas Lutheran on Saturday at 6:00 PM. 
 
On the Southwestern Pirates: The Pirates are struggling this year, posting a 1-8 record so far in the 2023-24 season. The Pirates have only scored sixty points once this season, and that was in their 60-56 win against Concordia (TX). In their most recent game, the Pirates were defeated by Pacific Lutheran by a score of 37-53. The Pirates are carried by junior point guard Ellie Ward. Ward is averaging 12.1 points per game on a 33.3 shooting percentage this season. Since 2009, the Tigers are 26-5 against the Pirates and are sporting a 16-game winning streak. In their last match up, the Tigers dropped 125 points on the Pirates. 
 
On the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs: The Bulldogs hold a 5-1 record so far this season. The Bulldogs dropped their most recent game against Pacific Lutheran by a score of 50-47. The Bulldogs are no pushover, as they have defeated the NCAA DII St. Edwards 71-63 in mid-November. The Bulldogs have a high-scoring offense as they have three players averaging over 10 points per game. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs are led by sophomore guard Lauren Sansano. Sansano is shooting 46 percent from the field and putting in at least 12.2 points per game so far. Since 2009, the Tigers are 21-7 against the Bulldogs, including winning last year's match up by a score of 77-62. 
 
Key To The Game
 
Start Strong: In their loss, the Tigers scored less than 20 points in both of the opening quarters and only shot 38 percent from the field in the second quarter. Look for the Tigers to press hard early and put the game away before it starts. Look for the Tiger starting lineup to shoot the lights out early and often so they can put two early SCAC wins under their belt. 
 
Looking Ahead 
 
The Tigers will play the first home conference games against Austin College and the University of Dallas on December 15th and 16th.