HARROGATE, Tenn. – The LMU women's basketball team will seek to extend their winning streak to six games and complete the season sweep of Coker as they face the Cobras in a South Atlantic Conference contest Saturday at 2 p.m. in Hartsville, S.C.

The Lady Railsplitters are currently riding a five-game win streak and are 11-6 overall and 7-3 in SAC play on the season, ranking them third in the SAC standings.

In their most recent outing, LMU won their fifth game in a row in dramatic fashion as they rolled out to a 15 point first-half lead over Tusculum. The Pioneers fought back and took a late eight-point lead before LMU rallied back. The teams exchanged the lead eight times over the last four minutes before Tusculum took a 75-74 lead on a Yolizma Cupidan driving layup with 4.3 seconds left.

LMU called timeout to advance the ball, and on the ensuing play Sydney Newsome made a perfect lob pass to a cutting Emily Griffith, who was fouled while attempting a game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds left. The senior then hit both free throws to give LMU the 76-75 lead. A last gasp attempt by Tusculum fell way short and LMU claimed the win.

Emily Griffith led the Lady Railsplitters with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Her twin sister Rachel was close behind with 18 points, three assists and two steals. Maggie Jachimczuk had eight points and a game-high six rebounds.

Following this game, LMU will travel to Carson-Newman for a meeting with the Eagles on January 30 at 6 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
· LMU leads the all-time series 7-5. They are currently riding a six-game win streak in the series and last lost to Coker on Dec. 5, 2015 in Harrogate. LMU is 3-2 against Coker in Hartsville.

· In their most recent meeting, LMU never trailed in the contest as they rolled out to a 76-66 win on Dec. 1 in the Tex Turner Arena. Rachel Griffith paced LMU in scoring with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Emily Griffith, Kyndall Caudle and Lindsay Proffitt each chipped in 11 points. Saquita Joyner led the Cobras with 21 points, and Erin Houser added in 15 points.

· The last time the two teams met in Hartsville, on Feb. 17, 2018, LMU rallied from a 14-point third quarter deficit to grab the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Coker tied the game on a Shay Jackson free throw with 49 seconds left, but a layup by Qua Hines and free throws from Ross Mathis sealed the deal as LMU held on for the 68-64 win. Hines had 17 points and Shea Coker had 11. Mathis led LMU on the boards with six rebounds. Coker had four players in double figures, led by Hayley Kropp's 14 points. Janea Williams chipped in 11
 
SCOUTING COKER
· Coker have won two straight games and currently stand at 4-14 overall and 3-7 in SAC games. They have not won a game at home thus far this season.

· Erin Houser leads the team in scoring with 10.8 points a game, while Hayley Kropp has a 10.1 ppg average. Houser also leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 7.3 rebounds a game.

· Aloni McFarland leads the team in assists (2.6 per game) and Ashauntee Nelson is averaging 1.2 steals a game

· As a team, Coker is being outscored by their opponents by a margin of 71.7 to 63.0 points a game, but are hold a +0.3 margin in rebounding.
 
SCOUTING LMU
· Head Coach Krystal Evans is in her fifth season at LMU. She has an 88-49 overall record.
 
· LMU is seeing double as both Emily Griffith and her twin sister Rachel currently lead the team in scoring, with Emily edging out Rachel 16.4 points a game to 14.8. In conference games they flip spots as Rachel is averaging 17.8 points to Emily's 17.0. Sydney Newsome has 8.2 points a game, while Dasia Maxwell has 7.4, Maggie Jachimczuk 6.9, and Sydney Duggins is averaging 6.8 points a game.
 
· Rebounding is a team effort this season as Maggie Jachimczuk leads the team in rebounds with 5.8 a game, while Newsome has a 5.4 per game average. Shermeria Quarles and Emily Griffith are close behind with 4.6, while Addi Kirkpatrick has a 3.9 rebounds a game average.  
 
· Emily Griffith leads the team with 3.9 assists a game, followed closely by Rachel with 3.2.

· The twins are also close in steals, with Rachel averaging 1.9 a game and Emily 1.8. Maxwell has 1.4 a game and Newsome 1.2.
 
· LMU has four of the top 15 three-point shooters in the SAC, as Sydney Duggins (44.1) and Lindsay Proffitt (42.5) are first and second in the conference, respectively. Rachel Griffith is 11th and Dasia Maxwell ranks 15th.
 
· As a team, LMU is averaging 75.9 points a game while holding opponents to 72.5. They are out-rebounding opponents by a margin of +6.3 a game.
 
· LMU leads the SAC in three-point percentage, made free throws a game and offensive rebounds per game. They are second in assists per game, field goal attempts, free throw attempts, and total rebounds per game. They rank third in points, points per game, and made field goals per game; and rank fourth in rebound margin. They also rank 12th nationally in rebounds per game.
 
RECORD WATCH
· POINTS –Emily Griffith currently has 821 points, placing her in 30th place, and trails Heather Benton (2004-08) by seven points. Rachel Griffith isn't far behind at 38th with 736 points.
 
· FIELD GOALS – Emily Griffith is 29th with 312 while Rachel Griffith is 42nd. Dasia Maxwell is in 74th place.
 
· THREE-POINTERS – Rachel Griffith ranks 13th in made three pointers with 82 and trails Katrina Ottesen (2013-15) by seven. Sydney Duggins ranks 25th, while Dasia Maxwell is in 32nd place. Emily Griffith is in 49th place.
 
· FREE THROWS – Emily Griffith is in 28th place with 178 free throws. She needs three to tie Chasity Williams (2002-06). Rachel Griffith is in 34th place with 162.
 
· REBOUNDS – Emily Griffith ranks 57th with 256 rebounds. She needs two to tie Jennifer Acree (1998-00) for 56th place. Dasia Maxwell is 74th, Rachel Griffith is in 86th place and Cameryn DuBose is close behind at 94th. 

· ASSISTS – Emily Griffith is in 21st place with 206 assists. She needs 11 to tie former teammate Ross Mathis (2014-18) and Liz McQueen (1980-84) for 19th. Rachel Griffith is 27th with 168. Dasia Maxwell is in 76th place.

· BLOCKS – Emily Griffith ranks 28th with 31 career blocks, two blocks (and one spot) ahead of teammate and fellow senior Dasia Maxwell. Emily is one block behind 27th place Amanda Jackson (1997-01). Cameryn DuBose is in 47th place and Rachel Griffith ranks 58th.
 
· STEALS – Emily Griffith has 132 career steals, placing her at 17th. She needs six to tie Hillary Ross (2000-04). Rachel Griffith is in 28th place with 114.