Photo by Neil Faux: UMHB’s Arieona Rosborough grabs a pass in the season opener against Trinity on Nov. 11, 2023 in Marshall, Texas
BELTON-After a four-game stretch on the road, UMHB women’s basketball returns to Belton for the first time in this 2023-24 season, facing Schreiner on Monday night. It also marks UMHB head coach Katie Novak-Lenoir’s first game in Belton at the helm of UMHB program, with the Crusaders aiming to extend their win streak to four.
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Setting the Stage
Schreiner (1-3, 0-0 SCAC) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-1, 0-0 ASC)
Date/Time: Monday, November 27, 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: Belton, Texas (Mayborn Campus Center)-Admission is free
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Postgame coverage on TrueToTheCru.com
The Series
This marks the 29th meeting between the two programs dating back to a 64-52 win for UMHB on Jan. 22, 2004 in Kerrville. Both UMHB and Schreiner were in the ASC up until 2012-13, meeting twice a year during that span. They did not play again until the 2016-17 season, when UMHB won 71-47 in Belton on Nov. 22, 2016, and resumed an annual home-and-home series that lasted through 2018-19. The series then resumed post-COVID, with the Crusaders and Mountaineers facing off in Belton in 2021-22 and in Kerrville last season. The Cru has won the last 11 meetings.
Scouting Schreiner
The Mountaineers earned their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon, defeating Howard Payne in Houston, 77-62. Schreiner jumped out to an 18-12 lead after the first quarter and never relinquished the advantage, widening the margin to as many as 20 points, 77-57, with 45 seconds left.
Schreiner shot a season-best 43.6 percent from the field in the win, led by 17 points from junior guard Demauria Miles. A native of Little Elm, Texas, Miles leads the Mountaineers in the scoring column, averaging 18.0 points per game. Tianna Murray, a sophomore guard, is the only other Schreiner player averaging double figures in points, at 10.3.
Head coach Stacy Stephens, in her third year at the helm of the program, has utilized a large rotation, spreading out the majority of the minutes amongst nine players, who each average 14.0 or more minutes per game. Miles is the only player who has logged an average of 30+ minutes per contest, at 32.5. The Mountaineers are also a fairly young team, with six of those nine listed as first-years and sophomores.
Staying aggressive on defense
UMHB’s defensive approach is one that emphasizes pressuring the ball and has made an impact through the first four games. Opponents have turned the ball over 20 or more times in each of the last three games, all of which have resulted in wins for The Cru. In those three games, UMHB forced 72 opponent turnovers, resulting in 58 points for the Crusaders, as intensity on the defensive end carried over into points on the offensive end. UMHB enters Monday’s game ranked No. 2 in the ASC in turnover margin (6.50).
On the boards
Rebounding has been a strength for UMHB early in this season, with a clear emphasis on winning the battle on the boards. Four Crusaders–Ashley Faux, Arieona Rosborough, Kaitlyn Kolllmorgen, and Jaycie Brisco–average 5.5 rebounds per game or more, led by Faux, at 7.3. But even more impressive is the fact that as a team, UMHB leads in the league in rebounding margin, averaging 9.8 more rebounds than its opposition. The Cru is also the best offensive rebounding team in the conference, and is tied for No. 7 in the nation, with 20.0 offensive boards per game.
On the horizon
The ASC opener follows on Saturday, as UMHB makes the short drive down I-35 to Austin, facing Concordia (TX). The Tornadoes are 1-4 overall heading into Monday’s non-conference matchup against Texas Lutheran.
