The Madisonville women’s basketball team picked up a pair of victories on the weekend with a 51-35 win over Hull Daisetta Friday and a 38-26 win over Willis Saturday. The Lady Mustangs looked to make it three straight with a road matchup in Normangee Tuesday.

“A big thing we are trying to work on is having good energy and a good attitude and everything will fall into place,” said head coach Monique Whittaker. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we have the rest of the season to get better.” In their last three

In their last three matchups, including a loss to Snook Dec. 8, the Lady Mustangs have held their opponents under 36 points. They allowed just 17 total fourth-quarter points in the three games.

“I’m telling the girls our identity is defense and they are starting to figure it out,” said Whittaker. “Defense creates offense. We want to be a run-and-gun, fastpaced team, we want to score points in the backcourt.”

Jerkayla Dickey led the team with 18 points in the win over Hull Daisetta and was followed by Ke’Myreul Wheaton with 12 and Makayla Ford with nine.

The team had a quick turnaround and defeated Willis Saturday in a low-scoring affair by a score of 38-26. Wheaton led the charge with 13 points, six of which came in the fourth quarter. She was followed by Dickey with nine and Makenzie Krantz with seven.

“Every game I feel like we’re getting a lot better,” said Whittaker.

“(On Saturday) we were hitting those shots inside the paint that we struggled with in the past. We ended the week on a good note and the girls were able to turn it around and get another win in.”

The back-to-back wins came after a 38-33 loss to Snook Dec. 8, in which the team fell into their opponent’s slower-paced style of play. Dickey led the team in points with 10 and was followed by Daiona Johnson, Wheaton and Tra’Shayla Smith with six apiece.

The Lady Mustangs battled Normangee on the road Tuesday and will host Huntsville Friday. They are slated to begin district against Mexia Jan. 5.

“As long as we keep working everyday, we will be in a good spot and ready for district,” said Whittaker.