COMMERCE, TEXAS – For the second time in three days, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team topped Lone Star Conference rival A&M-Commerce by a final score of 79-66.

The win keeps the Javelinas (6-15, 5-10) in contention for an LSC Tournament appearance. Overall, the team has now won five of their last nine games dating back to a January 7 win over Abilene Christian.

It was the Lions (1-20, 0-15) who controlled play in the early going as they built up a 17-10 lead after a jumper by Breanna Harris with 10:58 to play in the first half. The Javelinas would quickly tie the game and took their own seven-point lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, the game remained tight in the early going until the Javelinas put together a burst midway through the period. The Hoggies extended their lead from 48-44 with 15:55 left in the game to a 71-53 advantage with 6:51 to play. The Lions would not go away and cut the lead to eight points with 2:26 remaining, but the Javs would hold them scoreless the remainder of the game.

The Javelinas shot 44.3 percent from the field, made 4-of-14 from three-point range and were 13-of-21 at the foul line. Senior Amanda Haven (Calallen/Calallen HS) had 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a strong all-around effort. Inekka Stevenson (Freeport/Brazosport HS) and Jackie Stanley (Wylie/Wylie HS) each notched double-doubles. Stevenson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and a season high four blocks while Stanley had 13 points and 10 boards in only 19 minutes off the bench. Kaitlyn Lowen (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) scored a season high 11 points off the bench and Kelly Bastow (Bunbury, Australia/Bunbury Catholic) added 10 points on a trio of three-pointers. The team had 42 rebounds and 16 steals while committing 17 turnovers.

The Lions shot 39.7 percent from the field, made 5-of-19 from three-point range and were 7-for-12 at the foul line. Harris led the team with 16 points and eight boards while China Pippin knocked down four three-pointers and scored 14 points off the bench. La’Tisha Hearne added 12 points and five rebounds and Michelle Sutton contributed 11 points and five boards. Danielle Dixon led all players with eight assists in the game. They had 45 rebounds and committed 24 turnovers.

The Javelinas are back in action on Thursday night at home against Cameron at 6 p.m.
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