JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven women's basketball team gears up for its final long-distance road trip of 2016 with a trip to Abilene, Texas to take on American Southwest Conference (ASC) foes McMurry and Hardin-Simmons this weekend. 

The Blazers (3-3) are coming off a 77-68 non-conference victory against Centenary in Shreveport, La. on Dec. 10. The victory for the Green and Gold snapped a three-game losing streak. 

Belhaven returns to the Lone Star State looking for redemption, with the Green and Gold falling to Concordia Texas and Mary Hardin-Baylor two weeks ago. 

As a team, the Blazers have dominated the glass this season. In six games thus far, Belhaven is second in the ASC and seventh in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in rebounds with 44.7 per game. 

While rebounding the ball effectively, the Green and Gold have shown great defense as well. Opponents have only been able to shoot 35 percent from the field, fourth in the ASC and sixth in the NCCAA. From downtown, opponents have shot just 24 percent, tops in the ASC and second in the NCCAA.

First up on the road trip: McMurry on Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. The Blazers, in last year's matchup, defeated the Warhawks 73-69 in Jackson last Jan. 4. 

Leading the Blazers charge was Candler Gregory, who scored a career-high 28 points, including 6-for-11 from downtown. The six made 3-pointers was one shy of the school record owned by Holly Dial and Sarah Carr. The Hampton, Ga. native went 9-for-16 from the field. Sierra Pittman dished out 10 assists in the win.

In 2016-17, the senior is averaging 9.7 points per game and is shooting 32 percent (9-for-28) from beyond the arc. 

For the Warhawks, Sham Hunter leads MCM with 13.3 points per game, second in the ASC, while shooting 54.7 percent from the field. Skyler Reyna leads McMurry on the glass with 7.4 boards per game, while also averaging 12.1 points per contest. 

Currently 2-5 on the 2016-17 campaign, McMurry is coming off 74-51 loss at 25th-ranked Texas Tyler on Dec. 12.

Fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy for the "Toys for Tots" program Thursday night will receive a free ticket per toy contributed. Click here for more information.

After the contest Thursday night, the Blazers will head to the north side of Abilene to take on Hardin-Simmons at 1 p.m. Saturday. 

In the contest on Jan. 2, the Green and Gold defeated the Cowgirls, 60-52. Pittman led the Green and Gold with 23 points in the contest. 

The Cowgirls (3-5) are coming off a 76-72 loss to LeTourneau in Longview, Texas and will play Southwestern on Thursday night before hosting the Blazers Saturday afternoon.

Leading HSU is Kourtney Holyfield with 10.8 points per game, while Kayla Brown's 10.4 rebounds per game is ranked second in the conference. 

This weekend's contests will be the final games for the Blazers before Christmas. The Blazers return to Jackson to conclude non-conference action with three games to ring in the New Year, beginning on Dec. 28 against Birmingham-Southern. Tip off is slated for 5 p.m. from Rugg Arena. 

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