AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team dropped their season opener to former Lone Star Conference rival Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday night, 85-74.

The final score was a bit misleading since the Savage Storm (1-0) held a 71-68 lead with 2:47 remaining in the game, but were able to ice the game at the foul line by draining 10-of-12 free throw attempts over the final 2:30.

The Javelinas (0-1) held the lead for the majority of the first half as they got off to a good start. They poured in 21 points in the first 6:16 of the contest, but it was the Savage Storm who took the lead on a Christina Jack jumper at the half time buzzer, 40-39.

In the second half, Southeastern Oklahoma was able to maintain their lead for the entire 20 minutes. The Javs cut the lead to three points on three different occasions in the final five minutes, but could never get any closer.

The Javelinas shot 33.8 percent from the field and only 23.5 percent from three-point range while making 18-of-25 from the foul line. Senior Amanda Haven (Calallen/Calallen HS) led the team with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Junior Meagan Barlow (D’Hanis/D’Hanis HS) added 16 points off the bench as she went 5-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line. Inekka Stevenson (Freeport/Brazosport HS) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds and added eight points.

The Savage Storm shot 41.5 percent from the field, made 8-of-28 from three-point range and they went 23-of-33 from the foul line. Whitney Coffey led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds while Nikki Nester added 15 points. Brooklyn Horton scored 13 points and grabbed six boards of f the bench and Ashley Hobbs led the team with nine rebounds. Bailey Welch dished out a game-high six assists.

The Storm outrebounded the Javelinas, 53-41. The Javs forced 22 turnovers while committing only 12.

The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday at 6 p.m. at St. Edward’s.
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