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GAME NOTES | SAU | ECU |

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Tipping Off
The Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders are 2-0 to start the 2015-16 season with a pair of road wins over Philander Smith College and Texas A&M-Commerce. It is the first time the program has started 2-0 since the 2009-10 season when they defeated Jarvis Christian and Arkansas-Fort Smith to begin the year. First-year head coach Julio Pacheco leads a new-look Lady Mulerider Women's Basketball team into an early Great American Conference road swing. 

The Lady Muleriders are averaging 74 ppg; over 11 points more than their average last season, while boasting a positive scoring margin (+3) and rebounding margin (+3).
Tip-off from inside the Kerr Activities Center in Ada is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL
The Tigers are currently only a game into their 2015-16 campaign; a 63-49 loss to Cameron (Okla.) on November 14. East Central is coming off of a 15-12 season (11-9 GAC) and a 63-54 loss to Arkansas-Monticello in the opening round of the 2015 Great American Conference Tournament. In the season opener against Cameron, ECU scored 49 points on 30% shooting from the floor. Three players scored in double figures led by Tia Williams' 14 points and followed by a pair of 13-point performances from Alexa Adair and Whitney Stotler. Williams led the team with three steals as East Central swiped 10 steals in the opener. The Tigers grabbed 35 rebounds as a team including nine by Stotler as eight Tiger players collected a pair of rebounds or more.

COACH
The Tigers are led by second year head coach Matt Cole who was introduced as the fourth Tiger Head Women's Basketball Coach in April of 2014. In his first year as the leader of ECU's program, Cole led the Tigers to a 15-12 record and an appearnace in the 2015 Great American Conference Tournament. His 2014 squad were tops in the GAC in several defesnive categories including scoring defense (59.6 ppg) and turnover margin (+3.67).

Before coming to Ada, Cole spent 11 years courtside for the Northeastern State RiverHawks as an assistant coach where he helped guide the program to seven NCAA tournament apperances and two Sweet 16 berths.

LAST YEAR/LAST TIME OUT
The two programs split the series last year with both teams winning at home. ECU edged out a five-point victory over the Lady Muleriders 69-64 on January 8 in Ada, while SAU picked up a twenty-point win over the TIgers in Magnolia, 58-38 in mid-February.

THE SERIES
This is the 14th meeting since the 1999-00 season between Southern Arkansas and East Central. During this recent stretch, ECU holds a 9-4 lead. When the game is played in Magnolia, however, SAU holds a 4-1 advantage.

ON TAP
Southern Arkansas will play the second part of their GAC road-swing on Saturday, November 21, in Durant, Oklahoma. Tip-off against Southeastern Oklahoma State is scheduled for 1 p.m.