SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team will open Lone Star Conference play with rival Tarleton State on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Junell Center.

The Belles (5-5) have won four-straight games and five of their last six heading into the conference opener. This will be the first game of 2015 for ASU and the first game since defeating Arlington Baptist 83-49 on Dec. 16, 2014. The Belles were scheduled to play Abilene Christian on Dec. 31, 2014 but it was postponed until Monday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. in Abilene due to inclement weather. Angelo State is 3-2 this season at the Junell Center and has won its last three games at home.

ASU is 1-0 in conference openers under head coach Cayla Petree after defeating Texas A&M-Commerce 55-54 last season. Tarleton State holds a 26-23 overall advantage in the overall series and have won four of the last five games. The Belles broke a four-game skid to the TexAnns with a 60-55 win at the Junell Center last season and are 1-1 against TSU under Petree.

Tarleton State enters the game at 6-3 overall and 0-1 in LSC play. The TexAnns opened the conference schedule with a 63-54 loss at Texas Woman's this past Saturday. TSU leads the league in 3-point percentage defense and are ranked No. 2 in free throw percentage (75-percent), field goal percentage (41.3-percent) assists per game (15.56) and 3-point field goal percentage (36-percent). Kathy Thomas leads the way for the TexAnns with 13.0 points per game while Ikpeaku Iwobi (11.9) and Karli Moore (10.0) are also scoring in double digits this season.

The Belles are scoring 65.4 points per game while limiting teams to 60.8 points per game. ASU has been tougher on the boards over the last five games of the season. Through the first five games, opponents were winning the battle on the glass by a margin of 41.0-40.0 but the Belles have reversed the trend during the last five games outrebounding opponents 45.2-37.6. ASU has also limited turnovers over the last five games from 19.8 per game to start the season to just 14.8 in the last five games.

The defense for ASU has stepped up as well. The Belles are No. 2 in the LSC and No. 29 nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at 26.4-percent and No. 1 in the LSC and No. 37 nationally in field goal percentage defense at 35.7-percent. In the last five games, all five opponents have shot under 32-percent with three hitting under 30-percent from the field. 

Jasmine Caston and Jackie Patterson are the Belles top two scorers at 14.5 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Caston has scored in double figures in eight games this season and recorded a season-high 26 in the win over Colorado State-Pueblo. She is fourth in the LSC in scoring and leads the Belles with 15 steals. Patterson has six games in double-digit points and finished with a double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) against St. Mary's. The senior averages 6.3 rebounds per game to lead the team and is ranked No. 8 in the conference in rebounds.

Amanda Weaver has increased her scoring from 8.8 points per game over the first five games to 10.2 over the last five games. The junior is averaging 9.5 points per game over the season and is the top 3-point shooter in the LSC hitting 46.8-percent of her shots. She has scored in double figures in six games and made 22 three-point shots on the season. Weaver leads the team with 24 assists.

Jasmine Patterson has made an impact coming off the bench this season. The junior is fourth on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game. She leads the team with two double-doubles and has four games in double figures.

Shauna Coleman ended the 2014 year with the best game of her young career. The freshman recorded her first double-double and set career highs with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She has four games in double figures and is averaging 8.4 points per game. Coleman is second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.  

Diamalises Rivera, who has started seven games for ASU, is scoring 4.5 points per game and grabbing 3.3 rebounds. Elaine Herrera averages 15.6 minutes per game and hits 41-perecent from the floor and has dished out 19 assists which is tied for second on the team. Michelle Rosewell is also tied for second on the team with 18 assists and has started nine games this season.

KeAnna Kelly, Keva Raiford, Kietta Saunders, Shanna Taylor and Kylie Rollman have all made appearances this season off the bench for the Belles.