KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team played a near perfect first half en route to a 90-74 victory over visiting Southeastern Oklahoma, the No. 25 in the nation, on Saturday afternoon at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court.  (box score)

The Javelinas (8-2) shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half, out rebounded the Savage Storm (9-1) by a 20-12 margin and committed only three turnovers as they took a 52-35 lead into the break.  The team was able to get into the lane time after time as guards Felicia Soza (Beeville/A.C. Jones HS) and Ursula Hill (Cypress/Cy-Ridge HS) hit pull-up jumpers.

In the second half, the Javelinas came out firing and quickly built up a 73-48 lead with 13:48 remaining after a Hill three-pointer.  The Savage Storm did not go away easily though as they fought their way back into the game.

A 10-0 run for Southeastern cut the lead to 15 points with 9:39 remaining and then they closed to within 11 points with 5:30 to play.  An 8-1 run by the Javelinas put the game away and the Hoggies cruised to the victory.

Senior forward Angela Franklin (Vacaville, CA/Vanden HS) led the Javelinas with possibly the best all-around game of her career.  She scored 14 points, grabbed a career high 11 rebounds and blocked two shots in 33 minutes of action.

Five other Javelinas scored in double figures.  Soza led the team with 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting while adding six rebounds and three steals.  Hill came off the bench to fire in 14 points.  Nikki Thering (Spring/Oak Ridge HS) and Reagan Sutton (Portland/Pusch Ridge Christian HS) added 11 and 10 points, respectively off the bench.  Rochelle Ikeni (Fresno, CA/Roosevelt HS) contributed 10 points and eight boards on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.  The Javs shot 54.8 percent from the field, made 7-of-18 three-pointers and were 15-for-23 at the foul line.

The Savage Storm shot 41.3 percent from the floor, made 2-of-16 three-pointers and were 20-for-26 at the foul line.  Kacey Russell led the team with 14 points.  Destiny Brown added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists while Liz Dean added 13 opints and seven rebounds.

The Javelinas are off until December 30 when they take on Texas A&M-International as the St. Edward’s Tournament in Austin at 2:30.
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