HUNTSVILLE ^__ The Alabama A&M women's basketball team heads to Texas this weekend for two critical games in determining SWAC Tournament seeding.

The Lady Bulldogs (14-11, 10-4 SWAC) will take on Texas Southern (16-9, 11-3 SWAC) on Saturday, and Prairie View A&M (11-15, 8-6 SWAC) on Monday, both scheduled to tip at 5:30 p.m.

Alabama A&M is currently tied for third in the conference with Southern, a game behind Texas Southern in the loss column and two games ahead of fifth place Prairie View. The Lady Bulldogs are looking to earn a split in the season series with Texas Southern after falling at home 82-73 on Feb. 1 and complete the sweep over Prairie View after defeating the Lady Panthers, 54-44, on Feb. 3 in Elmore Gymnasium.

The Lady Bulldogs are taking a six-game winning streak to Houston, including their first win over Southern since the 2011-12 season,* while also being currently tied for the longest win streak in program Division 1 history.

Alabama A&M continues to prove it is one of the top teams in the conference in rebounding, sitting second in the SWAC in offensive (14.9) and defensive rebounds (25.5) on the year. Forward Dariauna Lewis, a SWAC Player of the Year candidate, leads the team in scoring (16.5) and rebounds per game (9.3) on the season, good for second in the conference in both categories. Guard DeShawna Harper ranks sixth in the SWAC in scoring at 13.4 points per contest and third in threes per game at 1.9.

Texas Southern brings a three game win streak into the weekend, with their last game being a 77-46 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Graduate transfer Ciani Cryor is leading the Lady Tigers in scoring and assists, averaging 17 points and 6.6 assists, followed by senior Niya Mitchell, who averages 16.2 points and a SWAC leading 11.6 rebounds per contest. Guards Ataiya Bridges (12.4 per game) and Richelle Velez (10.4 points per game) round out the double figure scorers for the team this season.

Prairie View A&M is coming off an 89-72 win on the road at Mississippi Valley, and have won four of their last five games coming into the weekend. Though senior guard Bernesha Peters is the only double figure scorer at 10.1 points per game, the Lady Panthers have four other players averaging seven points or more, including Senior Ke'Asia Williams who scores 8.0 points and leads the team in rebounding at 6.6 rebounds per contest.

Bulldog Bites

• Coach Margaret Richards and her Lady Bulldogs are nearing program milestones including most SWAC wins (13 in 2006-07 season), overall wins (17 in 2011-12) and most Division 1 wins in a season (16 in 2011-12).
• The Lady Bulldogs are currently tied for the longest winning streak in Division 1 program history with both the 2011-12 team and 2006-07 teams.
• Alabama A&M is looking to secure a top four seed in this year's SWAC standings, which would allow them to host a game in the opening round in the SWAC Tournament.
• After the win on Monday over Southern, forward Dariauna Lewis tied the school single season record for rebounds in a season with 232 total rebounds.
• Lewis is closing in on a number of other season records, as she currently sits third in blocks  (43) and blocks per game (1.7) and fourth in field goals made (152) in the record books.
• Guard DeShawna Harper is also moving up in the record books as she currently sits third in three-pointers in a season with 46 made so far.

*Alabama A&M's 64-47 road victory over Southern on Feb. 18, 2013 was vacated.


For more information on the Lady Bulldog basketball team, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@aamuwbb) and Instagram (@aamuwbb). For more on all Bulldogs sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of AAMU Athletics on Twitter (@AAMUBulldogs), Facebook (Facebook.com/aamubulldogs) and Instagram (@AAMUathletics).