Basketball nearing playoffs; baseball and softball start strong; football signing day
As Angelo State basketball approaches the playoffs, the men's and women's teams are poised for action, while the NCAA Division II national champion baseball team begins their season with confidence. Meanwhile, the softball team started strong, setting the stage for an exciting tournament this weekend.
Ram Basketball
For the first time in 22 games, the Rams (15-7, 10-6) lost on their home court on Thursday falling to Lubbock Christian 75-50. After starting Lone Star Conference play strong winning their first seven conference games, the Rams have dropped six of their last nine LSC games including a four-game road skid in late January.
Despite the tough stretch, the Rams have a prime opportunity to right the ship against No. 1 West Texas at home on Saturday. ASU fell to the top-ranked Buffs earlier this season 88-73, which kick-started the Rams spiral.
If the Rams can knock off the Buffs, they will be tied for fourth place in the West Division with Cameron, who they play next Thursday.
LAST WEEK: Angelo State: Basketball and Baseball travel to New Mexico for LSC matchups
Rambelle Basketball
While the Rams struggle to find their footing late in the season, the Rambelles (17-7, 11-4) picked up a crucial win against Lubbock Christian at home 61-42.
Angelo State's "Big Three" of Madeline Stephens, Sawyer Lloyd and Tayjanna McGhee Pleasant scored in double figures for the Rambelles, including 20 points, 12 rebounds, one block and one steal in 39 minutes from Stephens.
The Rambelles will be back in the Junell Center on Saturday to take on West Texas A&M who is right behind them in the LSC West Division seeding.
Baseball
The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team split its opening series with Eastern New Mexico on the road and host Cameron this weekend in its home opener — the first time the Rams (2-2, 2-2) will play at home since winning the NCAA Division II National Championship last season.
The Rams hold the all-time series lead against the Aggies (0-4, 0-4) and are on a 15-game winning streak with Cameron's last win coming in May of 2019.
Saturday features a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. and the Rams will close out the series at 1 p.m. Sunday before heading to Odessa to face off against UT Permian Basin next weekend.
Softball
The Rambelles' (5-1) Tatiana Trotter earned LSC's first Hitter of the Week award after going 10-for-18 from the plate, including two doubles, a triple and a home run, leading to a 5-1 record at the Division II First Pitch Invitational. ASU started the weekend with a 4-2 win over No. 17 Wingate and followed with wins over Central Washington, MSU Denver and Arkansas Tech. The Rambelles' only loss came to No. 19 Rogers State 6-3 before beating Colorado Mesa 7-6 to close out the weekend.
This weekend, the Rambelles host the ASU George & Ola McCorckle Challenge taking on Texas A&M International and Regis before starting LSC play the next weekend against Midwestern State at home.
Football
Angelo State announced a host of football signees on National Signing Day, including a couple of familiar names from West Texas.Defensive end/linebacker Logan Thomas — the All-West Texas Defensive Player of the Year — was one of the players who signed with the Rams on Feb. 7 at Wall High School.
The other 28 players who signed to continue their athletic and academic careers with Angelo State can be found on their website.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: ASU sports update: Basketball playoff picture; spring sports start
