KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and outstanding free throw shooting to knock off previous undefeated Texas Woman’s University on Saturday afternoon at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court by a score of 71-64. (box score)
 
The Javelinas (7-1) had five players score in double figures and were 19-of-21 from the foul line.  They kept the Pioneers (3-1) at bay by making all eight of their foul shots in the final 2:43.
 
Despite shooting poorly from the field the Javelinas knocked down two important three-pointers late in the game.  First, Dyana Bullinger (Spring/Klein HS) drained a three with 4:12 left to make it a 60-54 game and then Kayla Naylor (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) drilled another one with 3:15 to play to make it 63-57.
 
In the first half the Javelinas led early, but the Pioneers responded by outscoring them 21-12 over the final 10 minutes.  Jessica Hanna’s hot shooting propelled TWU to a 33-28 halftime advantage.  She kept the team in the game in the second half with her timely shooting.  Her final three-pointer made it 65-62 Javelinas with 1:56 to play, but that was as close as the Pioneers could get.
 
The Javelinas were held to their lowest field goal percentage and three-point percentage of the season as they made just 34.8 percent of their shots and only 6-of-22 three-point attempts.  They made up for it with their clutch free throw shooting as they made 19-of-21 for the game.
 
Bullinger led the Hoggies with 13 points and six boards, including three three-pointers.  Naylor, Felicia Soza (Beeville/A.C. Jones HS) and Hill each added 11 points.  Naylor had five boards, five assists and two steals while Soza chipped in with seven rebounds and two steals.  Angela Franklin (Vacaville, CA/Vanden HS) added 10 points and an excellent defensive game.  Rochelle Ikeni (Fresno, CA/Roosevelt HS) led the team with nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of action.
 
The Pioneers were led by Hanna’s 22 points as she made 6-of-8 three-pointers and grabbed a team high nine rebounds.  Casey Poll added 12 points while Jessica Durr chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.  Tiandrea Dixon dished out a game high eight assists.
 
The Pioneers shot 43.1 percent from the field, made 10-of-28 three-pointers, but were only 4-for-11 at the foul line.  They committed 24 turnovers while forcing 19 and were outrebounded by a 43-37 margin.
 
The Javelinas are back in action on Thursday as they travel to Northeastern State for a 6 o’clock tip-off.
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