AUSTIN, Texas (February 20, 2018) - The Texas A&M International University Women's Basketball team will close the 2017-18 regular season with two games up I-35 this week. The Dustdevils open the roadtrip on Wednesday, February 21 at St. Edward's University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

THE DUSTDEVILS:
TAMIU enters Wednesday's matchup at 2-24 overall and is still on the hunt for their first Heartland Conference win of the season. The Dustdevils fell twice at home last week, including a loss to the Heartland's #2 team, Arkansas-Fort Smith. Rogers State would deal the Dustdevils a tight loss on Senior Day at the TAMIU KCB. On the season, TAMIU is scoring 58.7 points oer game while opponents are scoring just over 73 points per game. The Dustdevils post a shooting percentage of 36.2 % and 24.1 % from behind the arc. 

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS:
The Hilltoppers enter play at 11-14 overall and 4-8 in the Heartland Conference. St. Edward's played their last game on February 15 against Arlington Baptist where SEU won 80-67. Prior to that matchup, SEU's last win came on January 27 when the Hilltoppers defeated TAMIU at home. The Hilltoppers are averaging 57.8 points per game this season while opponents are scoring 60.3 against SEU. SEU is shooting 36.1% from the field and 30% from behind the arc. 

Isabel Hernandez leads the Hilltoppers in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. Hernandez is the only Hilltopper to average 10 points per game or more. The Junior also leads the squad in rebounds, pulling in 5.2 boards per game. 

THE LAST MATCHUP:
The Dustdevils and Hilltoppers met on January 27 in Laredo. The Dustdevils would fall in that matchup 58-74. Hernandez scored 21 points and pulled in eight rebounds for SEU. Julia Hanni led the Dustdevils, scoring 15 points. LaShae Rolle and Hanni each pulled in eight rebounds while Tantashea Giger added 12 boards. With the win, SEU moved ahead in the all-time series 17-11.

SCOUTING THE RATTLERS:
The 2017-18 regular season ends in San Antonio, Texas for the Dustdevils. TAMIU will take on St. Mary's University on Saturday, February 24. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. 

The Rattlers have the week off before the Dustdevils arrive at the Bill Greehey Arena for Saturday's matchup. StMU sits at 14-12 overall and post a Heartland Conference record of 8-5. The Rattler upset the Heartland's second ranked team on February 17, downing Arkansas-Fort Smith 84-75. StMU is holding opponents to 60 points per game this season while scoring 57.2. The team is shooting 37.4% from the field and 27.3% from behind the arc. 

The Rattlers use two scoring threats to run the offense in Arysia Porter and Soteria Banks. Porter is averaging 14.9 points per game this season while Banks is putting up 11.9. Porter also leads the team on the glass. Porter is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game. 

THE LAST MATCHUP: 
The Rattler and Dustdevils faced off to open Heartland Conference action on December 9, 2017 in Laredo. The Dustdevils fell 51-69 in that matchup. After the loss, St. Mary's moved the all-time series to 19-4 in favor of the Rattlers. 

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE:
After Saturday's matchup the Dustdevils will shift their focus to postseason Basketball. The Dustdevils will enter the 2018 Heartland Conference Tournament as the #8 seed and will face a tough foe in the nations #2 team and Heartland's #1 seed Lubbock Christian. The 2018 Heartland Conference Basketball Championship takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center.