Women's Basketball 1/16/2010 12:00:00 AM

Women Stay Perfect at Home

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Despite playing a tad sloppy at times, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team was able to prevail over visiting Eastern New Mexico, 77-61 on Saturday afternoon at Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. The win improved the Javelinas record to 8-0 at home. (box score)

The Lone Star Conference South Division contest began with the Zias (5-12, 0-2) in control of the game. They knocked down a trio of three-pointers and frustrated the Javelina (13-4, 1-1) offense during the first eight minutes of the game. With 11:43 left in the first half the Zias led 18-13 after a three-pointer by Alix Ortiz.

The Javelinas did not shoot the ball very well in the first half, but were able to get to the foul line 18 times. They finally took the lead for good with 6:53 remaining in the first half after a pair of Felicia Soza (Beeville/A.C. Jones HS) free throws. Over the final eight minutes of the half the Hoggies outscored the Zias 22-10 to take a nine-point lead into half time.

In the second half, the Javelinas forced the Zias into turnovers on each of their first four possessions. Those turnovers were converted into nine points by the Javelinas and it looked like they were going to put the game away after taking a 49-31 lead with 17:30 to play.

The Zias did not give in though and gradually fought back and eventually pulled to within seven points on a Cat Clay jumper with 8:04 remaining.

The Javelinas were finally able to pull away from the visitors when Soza hit consecutive three-pointers to give the team a 14-point lead with 2:46 left.

The Javelinas were led by senior Dyana Bullinger’s (Spring/Klein HS) career high 22 points to go with 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the season. She went 13-for-14 at the foul line and had four steals in 37 minutes of action. Soza added 16 points, six rebounds and three steals. Starting guards Kayla Naylor (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) and Ursula Hill (Cypress/Cy-Springs HS) added 10 and nine points, respectively. Rochelle Ikeni (Fresno, CA/Roosevelt HS) chipped in six points and eight boards.

The Javelinas shot 44.2 percent from the field, including a 52.4 percent performance in the second half. They made 5-of-12 three-pointers and were 26-for-39 at the foul line. They committed 18 turnovers, but forced the Zias into 27 miscues.

The Zias were led by Til-Lois Fifer who had 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Clay added 13 points and six boards while knocking down 3-of-4 three-point attempts. Ortiz came off the bench to score eight points.

The Zias shot 33.3 percent from the field going 10-for-30 in the first half and 10-for-30 in the second half. They went 7-for-23 from three-point range and 14-for-19 at the foul line.

The Javelinas are back in action on Wednesday night for “Pack the House Night” at 6 o’clock against Angelo State at home.
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