Box Score MONTICELLO, Ark. – Close games continue to be the norm for the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team as the Javelinas, who overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half, suffered a 61-58 loss to Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night.

The Javelinas dropped to 5-5 losing by a basket for the second consecutive game. In Kingsville's 10 non-conference games the team four of the team's five losses have been by three or fewer points. The Hoggies have won twice in overtime and two other times by four or fewer points. Only the win over Our Lady of the Lake was by more than eight points.

On Thursday, the Javelinas fell behind the Blossoms by 13 points in the opening half. Kingsville answered closing out the frame with the final seven points with five points coming from Rita Banaszczak.
In the second half, UAM maintained the lead by no more than six points before Kingsville took its first lead of the game with less than four minutes remaining.

With 3:39 left, Brittany Selby connected on a jumper in the paint to tie make it a 1-point game. She was fouled on the play and her successful free throw knotted the game at 56.

UAM regained the lead, 59-56, on a Tamia Grady 3-point basket 20 second slated.

Kingsville would not score again until 90 seconds remained as Selby converted a putback off a Sheana Jones 3-point attempt made the score 59-58.

After Grady missed a lay in, Kingsville's Ashley Viera grabbed the rebound. Jones missed a lay in with less than 45 seconds to go which was the final shot for the Hoggies.

Raija McWright pushed the hosts' advantage to 61-58 with 15 seconds left on her only shot of the evening.

The Javelinas had a final possession but lost control of the ball. They recovered the ball at midcourt but could not get off a shot.

The duo of Banaszczak and Ruby Robertson led Kingsville with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Led by Lindsey Mahone's eight rebounds, the Javelinas dominated the glass. Kingsville had 45 total rebounds to 36 for the Blossoms. The biggest edge was in offensive boards as Kingsville had 16 to Monticello's seven and outscored the hosts 22-9 on second-chance points.

Kingsville played without second-leading scorer Rosalie Cutri, who is averaging 11 points a game. Mahone the team's top scorer was limited to two points on 1-of-10 shooting as the Hoggies shot just 33.8% in the game.

The Blossoms (4-4) had three players in double figures as they played just seven. Nikki Mullen led the way with 19, while Jordan Goforth and Grady each had 16.