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Jan. 22, 2004

Box Score

KINGSVILLE, Texas - The West Texas A&M University women's basketball team survived a major scare from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, but the Lady Buffs were able to hold of TAMU-K, 60-58, Thursday at TAMUK's Steinke Center. The win broke WTAMU's five-game losing streak at Kingsville. It also extended the Lady Buffs overall win streak to nine-straight and 13th in their last 14 games.

WTAMU improves to 14-3 overall, 2-1 in Lone Star Conference South division action, while TAMU-K lost its 13th consecutive game and drops to 1-14 overall, 0-2 in LSC South play.

Guard Carlee Howard, WTAMU's lone senior, and who hadn't won in TAMU-K's gym in her career, hit a pair of free throws with 8.8 seconds left to secure the victory, at 59-56.

TAMU-K's Kelly Beckler, who had 13 second-half points, hit a lay-up and was fouled with 6.1 ticks remaining. However, she missed the free throw and WTAMU's sophomore guard Tiffany Lewis snared the rebound and was fouled. Lewis hit one of two free throws with 3.7 seconds left. The Lady Javelinas ran a play, but turned the ball over, one of their 24 turnovers in the game, and the Lady Buffs ran the clock out for the win.

Junior forward Celeste Stevenson tied a game-high with 15 points, 10 in the second half, while Howard added 13 points, including three 3-pointers.

Angela Trotter led the Lady Javelinas with her third-straight double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Jody Brooks added 14 points and Beckler added 13 points.

WTAMU came into Thursday's game leading the LSC in scoring offense (76.0 ppg), while TAMU-K was last (49.0 ppg). However, the Lady Javelinas stayed with the Lady Buffs all night, as WTAMU's largest lead of the game was only nine points.

The Lady Buffs opened a 32-28 halftime lead, despite being outrebounded in the first half, 23-17. All five of WTAMU's starters scored three or more points in the first half, led by Stevenson's seven points.

Junior guard Suni Jo Petty gave the Lady Buffs the lead for good, at 25-23 with a 3-pointer at the 5:42 mark. Sophomore forward Keisha Monroe gave WTAMU its largest lead of the half at 30-25 with 1:10 to play, hitting one of two free throws.

The Lady Buffs opened a 43-34 lead with 13:25 remaining in the game on a layup from Stevenson, but TAMU-K clawed back with a 11-2 run to tie the game at 45-all with 10:08 to play on one-of-two free throws from Cianne Johnston.

WTAMU regained control with an 8-2 run, capped by a trey from Howard with 6:01 left, but the Javelinas wouldn't go away and pulled to 55-54 with 2:52 left on a trey from Beckler, her third of the game.

Junior forward Vasha Adams blocked a shot by Johnston, then scooped up the loose ball and made a layup with 1:12 to play and gave the Lady Buffs a 57-54 lead before Beckler hit a layup with 11 seconds left setting up Howard's game-clinching free throws.

WTAMU continues its two-game road swing on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Commerce, Texas, against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions, who have lost six of their last eight games, are 4-12 after losing to Eastern New Mexico, 79-74, Thursday.

-WT-