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March 3, 2007

Box Score

COMMERCE, Texas - After overcoming a double-digit deficit to claim a victory in the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, the No. 8 West Texas A&M women's basketball team could not duplicate the feat during the tournament's finale on Saturday night, falling to Texas A&M-Commerce by the score of 81-71. The loss also snaps a 14-game winning streak for the Lady Buffs and sends them into NCAA postseason play with a 27-4 overall record.

For the second game in a row, the Lady Buffs dug an early hole for themselves, this time early shooting was the cause of the deficit. While WTAMU connected on only two of its first eight field goal attempts and committed four early turnovers, while the Lions did not suffer the same shooting woes, converting each of their first five field goals attempts on their way to building a 13-4 advantage.

Forced to play catch up, the Lady Buffs were able to cut the Lion lead to three points for a second time in the half at 21-18, but TAMU-Commerce responded with a 7-0 run which put WTAMU down by double-digits at 28-18.

The lead grew for the home standing Lions to as many as 15 during the first half, sparked by the continued hot shooting of TAMU-Commerce, which finished 16-of-25 (64 percent) from the field during the period to take a 43-32 advantage into the locker room at intermission.

During the opening moments of the second period, the teams trailed a pair of scores before a technical foul was assessed to WTAMU head coach Krista Gerlich. The foul spurred the visitors from Canyon and after the ensuing TAMUC free throws, the Lady Buffs rallied for an 11-1 run, putting them within striking distance at 48-43.

Surviving the run by the Lady Buffs without surrendering the lead, the Lions responded with a 12-2 run of their own, culminating on a three-point field goal by Britney Jordan at the 12:37 mark which put TAMU-Commerce up 60-47.

Senior Alicia Saunders scored a pair of baskets and recorded a block to help spearhead another rush by WTAMU, in which the Lady Buff scores 10 straight points to cut the lead to 60-57.

A pair of free throws by Brister gave the Lady Buffs their slimmest deficit of the evening as she made it 64-63 with only 4:07 remaining in the contest. That, however would be as close as WTAMU could get, as the Lions held strong and connected on several big shots down the stretch to earn the school's first-ever Lone Star Conference Women's Basketball Championship.

Brister led all scorers during the contest with 29 points, followed by Courtney Lee who finished with 14 and Saunders, who ended play with 12 points. Brister and Lee were selected to the LSC All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play during the tournament.

The victory by the Lions avenges an earlier loss to West Texas A&M in Commerce, as the Lady Buffs earned a 63-54 victory over their East Texas rivals back on Dec. 7.

The Lady Buffs will now await their postseason destination as the regional sites and parings for the NCAA Division-II Women's basketball Tournament will be announce late Sunday evening.