FORT SMITH, Arkansas (January 16, 2018) - The Texas A&M International University Women's Basketball team opens a two-game road trip on Thursday night from the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Dustdevils (2-16 | 0-4) will take on Arkansas-Fort Smith (11-6 | 4-1) at 5:30pm. 

A LOOK AT TAMIU:
The Dustdevils are coming off a pair of Heartland Conference losses at home to open play on Thursday. The Dustdevils are in search of conference win #1 after falling to St. Mary's, #3 Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, and Newman this season. TAMIU picked up a pair of wins in the Courtyard Marriott Classic against Arlington Baptist and Huston-Tillotson. 

The Dustdevils have matched their win total from 2016-17 and look to improve further in the closing month and a half of the 2017-18 regular season. The two-game road trip concludes Saturday in a matchup at Rogers State

SCOUTING THE LADY LIONS:
UAFS enters play on a five-game win streak including three Heartland Conference wins. In their last game, the Lady Lions knocked off St. Edward's 72-60. The Lady Lions last loss came against Tarleton State on December 9 when UAFS fell 63-67. 

The Lady Lions are averaging 72.1 points per game and are holding opponents to 65.1 points per game. The team shoots 45.6% from the field and 33.4% from behind the arc. The Lady Lions are outscoring opponents in every quarter but the third this season. 

Tayla Taylor leads the Lady Lions offensive attack, scoring 13.6 points per game with a total of 231 points this season. Micayla Haynes is the only other UAFS player to average double-digit points, scoring 10.9 points per game. Haynes leads the squad in three-point shooting with 32 makes this season. Taylor is just .6 rebounds per game away from averaging a double-double on the season as she currently sits at 9.4 rebounds per game with a total of 160 this season. 

TAMIU'S STAT LEADERS:
Tantasgea Giger continues to be TAMIU's top scorer with 16.3 points per game and a total of 277 points through 18 games. Passionate Amukamara averages 12.2 points per game as the Dustdevils second top scorer. Amukamara has had the quick defensive hands for TAMIU, tallying 34 steals this season. Giger leads the team in rebounds, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game with a total of 109.

The Dustdevil offense is scoring 59.7 points per game this season and are shooting 36.4% from the field. TAMIU is shooting 25.9% from behind the arc. Opponents are scoring an average of 73.2 points per game this season. 

UP NEXT:
The Dustdevils two-game road trips ends in Claremore, Oklahoma with a matchup on Saturday, January 20 against Rogers State. Saturday tip-off is set for 1pm. 

STAY TUNED:
Stay up to date with the Dustdevils all season long by liking or following @TAMIUAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.