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March 2, 2007

Box Score

COMMERCE, Texas - After digging themselves a 10-point first half deficit and trailing for the majority of the contest, the No. 8 West Texas A&M women's basketball team completed a impressive comeback to defeat Central Oklahoma, 67-56, on Friday night during semifinal action at the Lone Star Conference Tournament in Commerce, Texas.

The Lady Buffs (27-3) now advance to the championship game of the LSC Tournament where they will face the winner of Friday's late game, which pit Angelo State, the second seed from the LSC South Division, against the North's top seed and tournament host, Texas A&M-Commerce. The title game is set for a 7:30 p.m. tip off from the TAMU-Commerce Field House.

The game did begin as head coach Krista Gerlich or the Lady Buffs would have hoped as the Lady Buffs misfired on their first four shots from the field despite getting several good looks on the offensive end. It was not until the 14:47 mark, when sophomore guard Emily Brister sank a short jumper that WTAMU was able to notch its first field goal of the opening period after scoring on only a pair of free throws by Brister during the game's early goings.

Rebounding was the biggest area of concern for the Lady Buffs during the early going as they were out rebounded by a 13-4 margin during the game's first 11 minutes allowing UCO to build a 23-13 advantage, their largest of the game.

The Lady Buffs rallied during the half's closing moments, cutting the lead to only three on a two occasions, but were unable to overcome the early deficit and went to the locker room trailing 36-30. At the intermission, the rebound margin was 22-8 in favor of the Bronchos, leading to an 18-2 UCO advantage on second chance points. The WTAMU defense was the factor that was able to keep the Lady Buffs in the contest, forcing 11 turnovers which lead to 20 first half points. The contest marked only the fourth time this season WTAMU had trailed on the season.

Brister was the biggest individual bright spot for the WTAMU in the opening 20 minutes, connecting on 6-of-8 field goal attempts and successfully converting all five of her attempts from the charity stripe to lead all scorers at the break with 17 points.

The slow but steady comeback continued when the team retook the court for the second half eventually leading to the point where the Lady Buffs were able to tie the game for the first time since the opening moments on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Courtney Lee. On the next WTAMU possession, forward Jenessa McKray was able to give the Lady Buffs their first lead of the ballgame with a pair of free throws at the 10:01 mark.

The run would spark the Lady Buffs for the rest of the way as they got big contributions by Brister, who finished with a game-high 24 points, and McKray during the streak on their way to building a six point-advantage at 55-49. WTAMU, responded out of the intermission to outrebound the Bronchos 22-17 during the game's second period.

The surge continued on a couple of big three point field goals from senior Natalie Wheeler, who finished with 13 points, including 10 during the second half, as the Lady Buffs took control of the game down the stretch to claim their 27th victory of the season.