ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's women's basketball team will be looking for some "home cooking" to cure its recent three-game losing streak when it hosts the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Thursday (Jan. 16/5:30 p.m.) and Lubbock Christian University on Saturday (Jan. 18/1 p.m.) at Kimbrell Arena.

The match-up between the University of Texas-Permian Basin and McMurry features two teams looking to get back on track in the early going of the conference race.

The Falcons come in with a record of 2-11 overall and 1-7 in the HC.  Like McM, UTPB's last victory came versus Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Nov. 23, 2013).  Since that time, the Falcons have been on an eight-game slide.

Most recently, UTPB played Heartland leader Lubbock Christian tough, actually holding the lead until the Lady Chaps regained the upper hand five minutes into the second half, in an 88-79 setback.

Statistically, the Falcons have a pair of players averaging in double digits. Valerie Barriga leads her team at 14.7 points per game, followed by Katreese Locket at 12.7 p.p.g. Giselle Loya is knocking on the double-figure door at 9.7 p.p.g. Barriga also leads her club's rebounding efforts at 6.5 boards per game.

Conversely, Saturday's tilt versus Lubbock Christian (13-1, 8-0 HC) will be versus not just the Heartland Conference leader, but also a team that is at – or near – the top in most statistical categories.  The Lady Chaps lead the league in scoring offense at 89.7 points per game, nearly 10 points better than the next closest team. LCU also ranks No. 1 in scoring margin (defeating its foes by an average of 23.7 p.p.g.), free throw percentage (77.3%), field goal percentage (50.1 %), three-point field goal percentage (39.1%) and assists (18.8 a.p.g.).

LCU has four players in the top-15 among Heartland scoring leaders, all averaging in double-digits. The quartet is comprised of Nicole Hampton (15.5 p.p.g./7th), Emily Pool (14.3 p.p.g./10th), Haley Borton (13.9 p.p.g./11th) and Kelsey Hoppel (13.6 p.p.g./13th). Hampton is the Lady Chaps top rebounder at 8.3 caroms per game.

Lubbock Christian is in the midst of an 11-game winning streak heading into this weekend's slate.

For its part, McMurry (2-11 overall, 2-5 HC) is on a three-game skid since defeating OPSU back on December 21. However, that may be misleading in that those losses were to teams currently occupying the Nos. 2-4 spots in the HC standings.  In falling to St. Edward's and Texas A&M-International last week, the War Hawks held both of those teams to their lowest offensive outputs of the season.

McMurry has been led by the balanced play of senior Keshia Collins. Collins averages 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.5 assists and 0.8 blocks per game. Collins shoots better than 41 percent from the floor.

Sierra Maykus (9.0 p.p.g.), Tory Salazar (6.3 p.p.g.) and Ana Dominguez (5.2 p.p.g.) follow Collins on the McM scoring chart. Dominguez also pulls down an average of 4.3 rebounds per outing and leads the team with a total of 17 blocked shots on the year.

Both games can be heard locally on KSLI 1280 AM in the Abilene area, as well as via the stations of the War Hawk Network and worldwide on the Internet. Kit Kimbrell and David Bacon will call the action. Video links for both games are also available - free of charge - via mcmurrysports.com.