FULTON - Currently riding a three-game winning streak, the William Woods University women's basketball team is set to open American Midwest Conference play on Thursday night as Hannibal-LaGrange University visits Anderson Arena. Tipoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m.

Quick Look - William Woods

The Owls, who recently returned to the NAIA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25, have been solid in their last three outings, downing then #12-ranked Campbellsville 59-53, polishing off Peru State College by a 75-60 count and most recently leading wire-to-wire in a 56-47 win over McKendree University. Megan Aubuchon (Old Monroe, Mo.) is averaging a double-double (13.0 pts, 10.0 rebounds) over the three-game set, while Sharron Andrews (Oakland/Hayward, Calif.) is just shy of a double-double with 13.7 points and 9.7 rebounds over the stretch.

WWU has maintained its edge on the defensive glass, but has allowed 50 offensive rebounds compared to 34 takes of its own. Another stat of note during the three-game stretch is William Woods' 16 blocks, which represent a third of the season-to-date total of 48. The Owls have spread the rejection around, with nine of the Owls' 15 regular contributors recording at least one and Aubuchon leading the way with four. WWU have also capitalized on their trips to the free throw line, with a 59-of-79 pace improving the season average by nearly 20 points to .689.

As a team, WWU has averaged only 60.1 pts/gm on the season but has been dominant defensively, holding its opponents to just 56.6 pts/gm - good for 16th among NAIA Division I schools - and have recorded 3.4 blocks per game - good for 23rd in the country per game and 28th overall. The Owls have also been dominant on the glass, ranked nationally in defensive (29.1/15th) and overall (42.5/25th) rebounds per game, and their margin of 4.9 reb/gm is good for 28th in the country.

Andrews leads the offense with 13.9 pts/gm, with Aubuchon improving to 10.3 pts/gm. Aubuchon is the leading rebounder for the Owls with 8.4 per contest and has a team-high 13 blocks on the year. Ashlee Taylor (Dexter, Mo.) chips in 8.1 pts/gm for WWU, and Blake French (St. Charles, Mo.) has added 6.8 pts/gm.

Quick Look - Hannibal-LaGrange

The Spartans bring a 9-6 record into Thursday's contest, and have been averaging 66.3 pts/gm. HLGU has shot at a solid .421 pace on the year, with a .314 mark from distance. Opponents have been able to match HLGU's pace, hitting at .405 and .318 clips respectively, but the Spartans have been strong on the defensive end, allowing nearly 100 fewer FG attempts on the season for its opponents and nearly 70 fewer 3-pt attempts.

The margin has been narrowed somewhat by trips to the free throw line, as the Spartans have sent opponents to the charity stripe 332 times on the year. HLGU holds a slim rebounding edge (35.1-33.0) and thanks to poor FT shooting from its opponents, the team also edges its opponents by a 66.3-61.7 pts/gm margin on the year.

The Spartans have two players averaging in double figures and four players with nine points per game or better. Ashleigh Spencer leads HLGU with 13.6 pts/gm on the campaign, just edging out Ashley Wilson's 13.1 pts/gm. Wilson is the team's leading rebounder, pulling in 7.9 rebounds per game on the year and recording 10 blocks and 34 steals on the season as well. Maddy Cunningham and Trenee Thornton each average 9.5 pts/gm for the Spartans, with Thornton also racking up a team-high 49 assists.