ABILENE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team came back from a 10-point second half deficit only to fall short in overtime at Lone Star Conference South Division rival Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon, 84-82. (box score)

The Javelinas (2-14, 0-4) trailed the Wildcats (5-11, 1-2) 55-45 after Autumn Whitaker drained a three-pointer with 13:03 left in regulation. The Hoggies quickly turned the tables with an 18-2 run over the next 4:14.

Freshman Chelsea Solis (San Antonio/Wagner HS) scored 11 of her career high 22 points during the run for the Javelinas and gave the team their first lead of the second half with 9:36 left in the second half.

The Javelinas held the lead until the Wildcats scored on four straight possessions. The Hoggies still trailed with under 50 seconds to play in regulation when Novella Thomas (Corpus Christi/West Oso HS) knocked down a three-pointer with 37 seconds left to give the team a two-point lead. The Wildcats tied the game on a Kelcey Smith lay-up with 22 seconds left and the Javs were unable to convert before the buzzer.

In overtime, the two teams traded three-point field goals in the first minute. The Wildcats held an 83-79 lead with 2:35 left, but the Javelinas closed the gap by making 3-of-4 free throws. The Javelinas still trailed by two points with 15 seconds left, but a Kelly Bastow (Bunbury, Australia/Bunbury Catholic HS) three-point attempt did not fall in the closing seconds.

The Javelinas shot 39.3 percent from the field, made 13-of-24 from three-point range and were 21-of-26 at the foul line. Solis led the team with 22 points as she went 7-for-13 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line. Bastow and Meagan Barlow (D’Hanis/D’Hanis HS) each added 15 points and Bastow drained 5-of-10 three-point attempts. Victoria Gonzalez (Hidalgo/Hidalgo HS) led the team with 10 rebounds and added eight points.

The Wildcats shot 43.5 percent from the field, made 9-of-19 from three-point range and were 21-of-35 from the foul line. Whitaker led the team with 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Mack Lankford added 14 points, five rebounds and four steals. Smith just missed a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

The Wildcats pulled down six more rebounds than the Hoggies and committed three fewer turnovers.

The Javelinas are back in action on Wednesday at home against Midwestern State at 6 p.m.
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