By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team, which as of Thursday was 13-12 overall and 4-6 for fourth place in division play, began their do-or-die stretch with a road trip that began Thursday evening at West Texas A&M and continues Saturday at Eastern New Mexico.

As of Thursday the Cats were two games behind West Texas A&M for third and one game ahead of Texas A&M-Kingsville, ENM and Texas Woman’s in the Lone Star Conference South, which are all at 3-7. If the Wildcats record a two-game road sweep, they could come home for their final two games tied with WTAM for third place in the South at 6-6. While a split wouldn’t spell immediate Wildcat doom, two losses could hurt their chances of making the playoffs.

The Wildcats are winners of two emotional home games over Kingsville and Texas A&M-Commerce. The two wins are the first for interim head coach Shawna Lavender, who took over last Wednesday after Wayne Williams’ leave.

“We’re pumped up coming off this winning streak, and we want to take advantage of that this weekend,” junior forward Jackie Vinson said.

With all the playoff scenarios bouncing around the LSC South, Lavender said distraction is the last thing the team needs.

“With all the changes going on with this team, it’s important that we focus on ourselves,” Lavender said. “When you start playing games with yourself, it’s easy to overlook what’s right in front of you. We’re not focusing on what’s going on in the [playoff] race.”