ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University women's basketball still finds itself with a shot to claim the American Southwest Conference West Division title entering the final weekend of the regular season, beginning with Thursday's matchup versus Howard Payne University at Kimbrell Arena.

Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.

The last few weeks have been kind of like going shopping and buying your own Christmas present for the War Hawks (16-7, 14-5 ASC). Head coach Veronica Snow and the McM team officially clinched a spot in the ASC post-season tournament in late January, leaving few surprises down the season's stretch run.

Since that time, however, McM has been battling for position in the upper echelon, knowing full well it can finish no worse than third in the ASC West standings. Thursday evening's date versus ASC West leader HPU would be the first of several dominos that would need to fall the War Hawks' way to wrest the top spot in the standings.

Howard Payne has won 17 of its last 18 games, including four in a row entering the game against McMurry. Its only hiccup during that span was a loss to Concordia-Texas on Feb. 4.

The Yellow Jackets (20-3, 16-3 ASC) took the first meeting with McMurry back on January 12 by a 67-57 score. McM senior Celeste Belizario led her team in scoring with 15 points (the only War Hawk in double digits). Sophomore Keshia Collins narrowly missed a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points.

It was one of just two games this season in which Collins failed to reach double figures.

Collins has been a model of consistency all around for Snow's team. Collins averages a team-leading 14.6 points per game and tops the rebounders t 6.7 boards per game. She also tops the team in assists (2.7 a.p.g.), steals (2.8 s.p.g.) and blocked shots (1.1 b.p.g.).

Junior guard Rikeita Thomas has been on fire of late, raising her scoring average to 10.0 p.p.g. and ranking second to Collins with 2.4 assists per game.

Belizario has also had the most solid year of her collegiate career in 2011-12. Belizario is averaging 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, all while shooting better than 45 percent from the floor.