RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University women's basketball will face two-first time opponents this week as they travel to take on Sam Houston (Jan. 27) and Stephen F. Austin (Jan. 29) in Huntsville and Nacogdoches.

The Lancers are coming off a rare 3-0 week after adding a rescheduled game against Seattle U to begin the stretch. CBU defeated Seattle U, Tarleton State, and Abilene Christian by an average of 10.7 points per game, and improved their defensive pressure by forcing 17 turnovers per game, up from their average of 14.0 from the 14 games to start the season.

Caitlyn Harper and Ane Olaeta both had huge weeks as each averaged over 20 points per game in the three games they played. The two veterans received help from the underclassmen each game, with freshmen Trinity San Antonio and Nicole Avila-Ambrosi contributing 7.3 and 6.0 points per game as the Lancer youth movement gains momentum.

GAME INFORMATION – Thursday, Jan. 27
Opponent:  Sam Houston
Time:  4:30 p.m. Pacific
Location: Huntsville, Texas 
Venue: Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum
Video (Domestic): ESPN+
Video (Intl.): WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

The Bearkats recently snapped a six-game losing streak that opened their tenure in the WAC, defeating the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Jan. 24, 66-52, in Edinburg. At 1-6 in conference play, the Kats are currently at the bottom of the WAC standings as they attempt to right the ship.

Sam Houston is tops in the conference in free throws made and free throw attempts per game, showing their aggression and ability to attack the rim. The Bearkats are led by Faith Cook, who is eighth in the WAC with 13.7 points per game, eclipsing 15 points in a game seven times already this season. Madelyn Batista is averaging 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, currently ranking second in the league in the rebounding category.

GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, Jan. 29
Opponent:  Stephen F. Austin
Time:  12 p.m. Pacific
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas 
Venue: William R. Johnson Coliseum
Video (Domestic): ESPN+
Video (Intl.): WAC Digital Network
Live Stats: SideArm

Saturday's showdown with the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin should prove to be a very telling game about the league's top two teams. The teams begin the week with a combined overall record of 29-5 and a perfect 11-0 conference slate.

Both teams went 14-0 in league play last season, with the Jacks doing so in their former home of the Southland Conference. Stephen F. Austin (20-straight) and the Lancers (25-straight) both currently own two of the six longest conference win streaks in Division I.

Stephen F. is led by senior Stephanie Visscher, currently averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Visscher, a six-foot guard from Sweden, has enjoyed an incredibly successful career, having started every single game for the Jacks since arriving in Nacogdoches in 2018.

The list of statistical similarities between these two programs is long, as both rank in the top-four of nearly every major statistical category in the WAC on both ends of the court. This game may ultimately come down to rest verse momentum. The Ladyjacks had to postpone all team activity last week, including games against New Mexico State and Grand Canyon, due to COVID protocols within the SFA program, whereas the Lancers played three games and had ample recovery time before traveling to Texas this week.