Catching Up With the Buffs: what you missed over winter break

Emily Merrill

The Lady Buffs gearing up for Oklahoma Baptist.

The West Texas A&M University Buffaloes and Lady Buffaloes have started their basketball season with full force. Both men and women’s teams only bearing one loss each continue in the success they have built over the past seasons. The teams are also ranked in the Lone Star Conference, Lady Buffs number 22 and Buffaloes number seven.

The Lady Buffaloes started on Dec. 19 and have played a total of seven games, the opponents consisting of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Midwestern State University, Oklahoma Baptist and University of Texas at Permian Basin.

The games against Arkansas-Fort Smith came out with wins 60-57 and 63-49 with senior post, Abby Spurgin and senior guard Lexy Hightower being our high point scorers.

Midwestern State was split between a win and loss with the games coming out to be 80-87 with two overtimes and 78-60. Hightower again takes the cake for high point scorer.

This past week Oklahoma Baptist came out to a score of 74-50 freshman forward Jayla Burgess made a debut giving the Lady Buffaloes 12 points.

Most recently UTPB was sent home disappointed with a victory from the Lady Buffaloes 75-56 and 83-64. Hightower and Spurgin both put points on the board for these games.

Although the first of the season had begun, the Buffaloes still got to appreciate some family time over winter break

Madison Kast, Junior Corporate Communications major and post for the Lady Buffaloes, expressed what that was like.

“We were allowed to go home for six days so it was nice to be able to see family during that short, but sweet time,” Kast said.

The men’s basketball team has been nothing short of what was expected as well, which is victorious. The Buffaloes started their season on Dec. 16 with games against Texas A&M Commerce, Oklahoma Baptist, Dallas Baptist University and University of Texas at Permian Basin. Their only loss has gone to Dallas Baptist University.

Texas A&M Commerce took a beating with a 30 point loss, an outcome of 100-70 for the Buffaloes. Junior guards, Qua Grant and Joel Murray return as a dynamic duo being the high point scorers for this game.

The Buffaloes didn’t show mercy to Oklahoma Baptist either with a win of 94-79. Junior guard Jon’il Fugett led the board with 19 points.

Dallas Baptist University split a win and a loss with the Buffaloes, the first game won by us 84-71 and the second game lost 78-87. Murray and Grant continue their partnership as high point scorers for both games.

This past week The Buffaloes took a victory to UTPB twice, 108-85 and 88-77 with Murray, Grant and sophomore guard Zach Toussaint joining in on the scoring action.

“We took a loss to DBU and I think it was needed. It humbled us in a good way and we will continue to learn and grow throughout the season and only get better,” said Qua Grant junior sports and exercise major and guard for the WTAMU Buffaloes.

In past seasons, the Buffaloes have consistently brought home conference titles and looking further into this one, there is a good chance they will come home with another.

“Having the conference titles is great but it’s in the past, we’re just going to have to keep doing it again and again. Later I’ll look back on all the accolades and accomplishments. Right now we’re living in the now and taking it game by game,” Grant said.

For further information on the WTAMU men and women’s basketball schedules and ticketing, please visit www.gobuffsgo.com.