Lady Bengals ready for a pair of games in West Palm Beach
After an eight day holiday layoff and a 14-hour bus ride, the LSU Eunice Lady Bengals are ready to finish out the 2012 portion of their season with a pair of games in the Palm Beach State Classic on December 28 and 29.
The Lady Bengals (4-8) will open their trip with a matchup against tournament host Palm Beach State College with a noon tipoff. Palm Beach State comes into the game with a 6-5 record so far on the season, but on a three-game winning streak after victories on Dec. 16, 17 and 18 when they hosted another tournament on their home court.
“They are a very good team at home, they struggle on the road, but as a 6-5 team they are very beatable,” head coach
Michael Bari said.
Palm Beach holds a 4-1 record at home this season, averaging 63 points per game while shooting 41 percent from the floor. Annessa De La Cruz leads the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 points per game, while Alana Arias is averaging 10.1 points/game. Arias also leads the Panthers in rebounding, grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game.
The Lady Bengals second game of the trip will come against the Community College of Rhode Island with a 2 p.m. tipoff. The Knights come into the tournament with a 12-1 record and ranked 11
th in the latest NJCAA Division II poll.
They are a combined 9-0 in road and neutral site games so far this season, and are averaging 94 points per game fueled by a 46 percent shooting average from the floor.
“They are a quick team with guards that can penetrate a little bit and they score a lot of points, so defensively and rebounding-wise we are going to have to step it up to compete and play well,” Bari said.
Allexia Barros leads the team with a 17.5 points per game average, while Jahira Smith averages 17.4 points/game herself. Alison Littles leads the Knights in rebounding, grabbing 12.5 boards per contest.
LSU Eunice comes into the weekend averaging 70 points per game and shooting 37 percent from the floor in their 12 games.
Lida Politopoulou leads the Lady Bengals in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, while
Taylor Hurd (13.8 points/game) and
Meghan Cross (12.5 points/game) are also averaging double figures.
Feleshia Walters leads LSU Eunice on the glass, averaging 6.1 rebounds per game, while Cross (5.8 rebounds/game) and Hurd (5.5 rebounds/game) are also averaging five-plus rebounds a contest.
Chesley Dubroc’s presence defensively has been felt with her 3.0 blocks per game average, while offensively, Politopoulou is averaging 6.6 assists per game and
Brooke Richard is passing out 4.2 assists/game as well.
“Coming off the break, I think our girls are refreshed and ready to go. I think they understand how the first half (of the season) went and are ready to go with these next four games to set us up for our conference,” Bari said.
Both of this weekend’s contests can be seen on
Bengal All-Access and can be heard over the airwaves on
KVPI 92.5 FM.
