BROOKLYN - Long Island University will welcome three visitors up to The Big Apple on Thanksgiving Weekend. The Sharks will host the Aggies, as well as Hampton and Cal State Bakersfield. The Aggies will be the lone team to not face the hosts. NM State is set to square off with Hampton on Black Friday and CSUB on Saturday morning. The Aggies enter the weekend on a two-game winning streak and are 2-2 on the season. Hampton is winless in their first three games of the season, while CSUB is 1-2.
Scouting the Lady Pirates
Hampton is led by Head Coach David Six, who has a career record of 261-165 (.613). Six has spent his entire 15-year tenure with the Lady Pirates, leading them to six NCAA Tournament appearances (2010-14, 17). Last year, Hampton finished 12-18 with a 9-10 mark in the CAA. The team bowed out in the second round of the conference championship, falling to Towson in the CAA Quarterfinals.
This season, the Lady Pirates have yet to win a game in three tries. They most recently suffered a 14-point home loss to Norfolk State. They also lost two on the road to Providence and North Carolina, each by 30 points.
Camryn Hill is the focal point of most offensive possessions for the Lady Pirates. The senior forward is leading the team with 9.3 points per game, and is shooting 26.7% from beyond the arc this season.
Amyah Reaves leads the team with 31.0 minutes per game, but did not see any action against Norfolk State. The junior guard posted 17 points and nine rebounds in her two games this season, and leads the team with 2.0 steals per game.
Despite their physicality, Hampton has struggled offensively, not scoring more than 46 points in a game this season. The team has shot just 33.3%, 25.8% from three-point land and just over 60% from the free throw line. Scoring just 77 points in their last two outings, the Lady Pirates are averaging 41 points per game.
Scouting the Roadrunners
CSU Bakersfield is under the direction of Head Coach Greg McCall, who has amassed a career record of 159-191 in his 13 seasons. McCall's entire coaching tenure has come in Bakersfield, where he has led his program to multiple NIT appearances. In 2022-23, the 'Runners went 8-23, but were knocked out of the Big West Tournament by UCSB after a surprising run to the Semifinals.
This season, similarly to the Aggies, CSUB started 0-2. They won their most recent game against Fresno State, however, and sit at 1-2 entering the weekend. The 'Runners will take on hosts LIU on Friday, notching another game of action before gearing up for their Saturday matchup with NM State.
CSUB's offense is geared towards Sophia Tougas, who paces the 'Runners with 12.3 points per game. The redshirt sophomore also tops her team with an 83.3% free throw rate and a 35.3% clip from deep (min. three attempts, each). Her 5.3 rebounds per game are second-highest on the team. She brings production on defense as well, as she is the only Roadrunner with at least three steals and three blocks.
Jordan Olivares does a little bit of everything for CSUB as a 5-foot-8 combo guard. Her 29.0 minutes per game are second to only Tougas (32.7), and they are meaningful for the 'Runners. Olivares' 7.0 rebounds per game lead the team, as does her 1.0 block per game. Additionally, she ranks top-three in points (9.3), assists (2.7) and offensive rebounds (2.3).
CSUB has scored 58.3 points on average this season, and is knocking down nearly three of every 10 deep balls, shooting 29.2% on three-pointers. The 'Runners scored 39 points in their most recent 20 minutes of basketball, draining 16 of 31 field goal attempts in the second half of a two-point win over Fresno State.
How to Follow
The games will be streamed live and are free to watch on NEC Front Row. Additionally, stats can be followed via LIU's SIDEARM Stats link, which is attached to this page.
For complete coverage of NM State Women's Basketball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWBB), Instagram (@NMStateWBB) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Basketball). You can also follow along with Aggie Women's Basketball via NMStateSports.com.
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