Kingsville – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball couldn’t overcome a tough first half in falling to Central Oklahoma 65 to 49 at Kleberg Bank Court. The Javelinas trailed 36-19 at halftime and never got closer than 14 points in the second half.
The loss dropped the Javelinas to 2-4 while the Bronchos evened their record at 3-3.
Junior post player Lana Toki posted her first double-double leading the Javelinas with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
Toki hit 10 of 18 shots from the floor.
Senior forward Angela Trotter was the only other Javelina in double figures with 14 as she moved into sole possession of eight in career scoring at Texas A&M-Kingsville with 1,099 points.
Lizzie Brenner led Central Oklahoma with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Things started well enough for the Javelinas as Toki hit a layup and Kayla Naylor dropped in a 3-point shot as Texas A&M-Kingsville jumped out to an early 5-0 lead.
UCO was held scoreless by the Javelina defense for the first four minutes, missing their first six shots.
It was one of the few things to go right for Texas A&M-Kingsville in the first half.
The Javelina offense didn’t take full advantage of it’s solid defensive start, making just two of their first seven shots and turning the ball four times as UCO grabbed their first lead a 6-5.
The Javelinas regained the lead at 8-6 on a 3-point basket by Dyana Bullinger, but the Javelinas would go scoreless for the next 5 ½ minutes as the Bronchos built an 18-8 lead with 7:51 left in the half.
The Javelinas had more turnovers (6) than baskets made (3) in the first 12 minutes of the game.
After Central Oklahoma expanded the lead to 14, 24-10 with 5:49 left in the half, but the Javelinas put together a five point run as Toki hit a three and a layup, but the Bronchos out-scored Texas A&M-Kingsville 10-3 the rest of the half to grab a 36-19 lead at the intermission.
The Javelinas shot just 26 percent from the floor in the first half with 11 turnovers. UCO made nearly 44 percent of their shots and out-rebounded the Javelinas 23-17.
Toki scored 11 of the Javelinas’ 19 first half points.
