KINGSVILLE, Texas (Women's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (6-2) continued to shoot the ball extremely well from three-point range and the bench finished with 25 points in Tuesday's 57-43 victory over #RV/19 St. Mary's University (8-2) at the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court.
 
The win clinched the best start to a season since 2009-10 when the Hogs went 10-2. The victory also improved the home record to 4-1 as the Javs closed out nonconference play 5-1. Further, the series sweep over the nationally-ranked Rattlers gave A&M-Kingsville the first season sweep since 2000-01.
 
Prior to tip off, the national polls released their rankings and St. Mary's was No. 26 (45 votes) in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll and No. 19 in the Division II Media Poll sponsored by Division II Sports Information Directors of America.
 
WHAT HEAD COACH WADE SCOTT IS SAYING
... on defeating St. Mary's
"To be able to defend our homecourt against one of the toughest regional opponents was huge. We were able to execute our gameplan and I'm very proud to end nonconference play with this victory."
 
… on resuming LSC play with a victory
"It gives us that extra motivation heading to Cameron on a winning note. We have a tough schedule ahead but ending our home 2016 schedule with wins over quality opponents is what makes good teams better.
 
… on the quick start in both halves
"Coming out strong allowed us to get comfortable early on. In the third, we counted on our bench and they played exceptional all evening."
 
QUICK HITS
The Javelina bench outscored the Rattlers 25-to-3 and the Hogs shot 41.7 percent from the floor. Defensively, A&M-Kingsville forced 28 turnovers and recorded 16 steals, a season-high, while also holding StMU to 0-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the second half.
 
LEADERS
Kaylin Roher paced the balanced attack with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including two triples. The senior added three assists and two steals. Essence Sauls came off the bench with eight points, all in the third period, including two and-ones, and Angelica Wilson pulled down six rebounds. Lily Hospers finished with seven points, four rebounds and three steals in 14 minutes of action. Meesha Wade struggled shooting the ball but was a menace defensively with five steals to go with her three assists. Kaylee Kana tied Wilson with a team-high six boards and Tee Moore, Roher and Wade each had three dimes.
 
For the Rattlers, Kiara Etheridge finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and four steals, but turned the ball over nine times. St. Mary's now falls to 8-2 with both losses coming at the hands of Texas A&M-Kingsville.  
 
FIRST PERIOD
The Javelinas continued to shoot lights out and jumped out to a 16-9 lead with 3:05 remaining in the opening quarter. A&M-Kingsville closed the first with a 17-9 lead behind 46.2 percent shooting. The defense registered seven steals and forced 11 StMU turnovers, and also limited the Rattlers to 3-of-11 shooting.
 
SECOND PERIOD
The lead reached double figures, 20-9, as the Hogs held the Rattlers scoreless from the 4:18 mark in the first to 7:16 in the second.
 
A 12-0 St. Mary's run allowed the away team to regain a one-point lead with 4:22 left to play in the first half. The run increased to 14 before Roher's first three-pointer and fourth for the Hogs tied the game at 23 with 3:03 remaining.
 
At the half, A&M-Kingsville trailed 27-23. Roher led the Hogs with six points and two assists, Kana pulled down a half-high five rebounds and Kana and Moore swiped two passes apiece.
 
THIRD PERIOD
The Hogs were relentless in the paint and made the extra pass, tying the game at 24 on back-to-back layups with 7:26 remaining in the period. The back and forth continued with Roher's circus shot knotting the game up moments later.
 
Sauls came off the bench with a bang, scoring on a second chance jumper, swiping a pass on the defensive end, and completing an and-one to give the Hogs a 34-31 lead with 3:54 left to play.
 
Seconds later, Sauls completed another three-point play to extend the cushion to six, and followed showcasing her passing skills, finding a trailing Wilson for a pullup J.
 
Hospers hit a jumper with less than a second remaining to end the third period with a 43-33 lead. The Javelinas outscored the Rattlers 20-to-6 in the period and shot 61.5 percent from the floor.
 
FOURTH PERIOD
Roher's corner triple with 6:19 remaining gave her 11 points and increased the Kingsville lead to 11.
 
With 4:09 left to play, Jaiton Walls drained a jumper off the pass from Roher to keep the 11-point cushion.
 
In the closing minutes of the contest, St. Mary's elected to foul and Wade highlighted the clutch free throw shooting to clinch the series sweep. She also registered two steals in the final minute as A&M-Kingsville upset the Rattlers, 57-43.
 
NEXT UP
Prior to resuming Lone Star Conference play with back-to-back road games at Cameron University and Midwestern State University, respectively, the Javelinas will head to the Toys for Tots Foundation Warehouse tomorrow between 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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