February 16, 2013
LIONS USE SECOND HALF RUN TO EDGE JAVELINAS, 77-74
Texas A&M-Commerce 77; Texas A&M-Kingsville 74
Location: The Field House – Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (8-13, 6-10); A&M-Kingsville (5-17, 3-13)
Up Next: at Midwestern State – Wednesday Feb. 20 – Wichita Falls, TX – 5:30 p.m.
Commerce, Texas – The A&M-Commerce Lions used a 14 to nothing run in the second half to key a come from behind win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, 77-74, at the Field House. Win the win the Lions sweep the season series against the Javelinas.
The Lions trailed by five with 2:54 left after Madara Guble made a three for Kingsville. A&M-Commerce answered quickly with eight nothing run to close out the game. Breanna Harris made two free throws with three seconds left. Kingsville got one last shot but Ashley Viera's three point attempt hit the back rim and bounced out.
Both sides came out firing on offense combining for 20 points in the first five minutes. A&M-Commerce went on a six nothing run to opening up a little breathing room at 14-8 thanks to two La'Tisha Hearne jumpers. A&M-Kingsville quickly put the clamps down on defense over the next four minutes. Holding the Lions scoreless and forcing six turnovers and scoring nine points to make it 17-14 with 12:30 left in the opening half.
Lead by Hearne and Symone Brown the Lions went on a 10-2 run to open up a six point lead at the 8:33 mark of the first half. A&M-Commerce maintained a five point lead over the next four minutes before Kingsville went on a seven nothing run to tie the game for the fourth time at 29 and take a three point lead with just over a minute to play. A jumper by Brown at the buzzer tied the game at 33 for the fifth tie of the first half.
The Lions dominated inside holding a 22-8 advantage in points in the paint. La'Tisha Hearne led the Lions in the first half with 10 points and added two rebounds and two assists. Brown had nine on four of five shooting and five rebounds. Danielle Dixon had eight points, three rebounds and three assists. Breanna Harris had four and Devin Oliver hit two free throws to round out the scoring for the Lions.
Sheana Jones led A&M-Kingsville and all scorers with 12 in the first half. Bradi Clark and Ashley Viera had six for the Javelinas.
A&M-Commerce jumped out of the gates quickly after halftime and built up a seven point advantage when Brown hit a three and a lay-up to make it 42-35. Sheana Jones hit a jumper to tie the game for the seventh time at 49 all then TAMUK had 9-2 run to extend their lead to 58-51 with 11:44 to play. The Lions then went on their 14-0 run over the next four minutes to give themselves a 65-58 edge. Both sides traded baskets over the next four minutes and Dixon tied the game at 74 with a layup. A&M-Commerce kept the Javelinas off the scoreboard for the remaining three minutes to get the victory.
A&M-Commerce continued their work inside, finishing with 44 points in the paint compared to the 16 for Kingsville. The Lions also held an advantage in fast break points at 16-9.
Four Lions scored in double figures led by Harris and Hearn each with 19. Dixon had 17 and Brown had 15, one off her career high. Harris had her 11th double-double this season and six in her last eight games, grabbing 14 rebounds. Dixon added eight rebounds, five assists and three steals with her 17 points. Hearn had four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Brown added seven rebounds to go along with her 15.
Sheana Jones had 31 points to lead A&M-Kingsville and all scorers. Ashley Viera had 13, and Kaitlyn Lowen and Michelle Wagner added eight each.
The Lions will travel to Wichita Falls on Wednesday to take on Midwestern State Mustangs, who are tied for first with Abilene Christian in the LSC standings. Tip-off is set for 5:30 in Wichita Falls as part of men and women doubleheader.
