Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Women's Basketball) – Shaq Debose scored 17 points and went 3-of-6 from three-point range in Texas A&M University-Kingsville's (7-3) 79-66 setback to the University of the Incarnate Word (2-9) Wednesday evening at the McDermott Center.
The Javelinas took the lead in the third following a dominating period in which they outscored the Cardinals 23-13. The 17 points by Debose is a new season-high for the Alcorn State University transfer. Tee Moore also reached double figures with 11 points and Kaylee Kana finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
FIRST PERIOD
Head coach Wade Scott tinkered with the starting lineup, adding Angelica Wilson (second start with first coming at UTSA) and Essence Sauls in place of Jaiton Walls and Meesha Wade. Down 5-0 early in the opening period, the Javelinas knotted the game up at 5 with a Moore jumper and Wade triple.
UIW regained a two-point lead but Kaylin Roher and Kana went back-to-back from long distance, giving A&M-Kingsville its first lead of the game, 11-7, with 5:25 remaining.
Through one, the Javelinas trailed 23-17. Kana led the way with seven points and four rebounds in the opening stanza.
SECOND PERIOD
Incarnate Word extended its lead and went into the break with a 42-34 edge over the Hogs. Kana paced the Javelinas with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, five rebounds and two steals, Wilson added five boards and Debose scored seven points off the bench.
A&M-Kingsville was 4-of-8 from three-point range in the first half.
THIRD PERIOD
The Cardinals went up by as much as 14, but a 10-0 Javelina run cut TAMUK's deficit to four with 2:59 remaining, capped off by Debose's layup.
After forcing a UIW timeout, Ope Ibrahim connected on an and-one to make it a three-point ballgame, followed by Debose's second three-pointer of the evening and 12th point of the game, knotting the game up at 55-55 at the 1:51 mark.
Seconds later, Debose hit a transition jumper to give Kingsville its first lead of the second half, 57-55 (1:11 remaining).
Through three, Debose led the Hogs with 14 points, seven coming in the third period. A&M-Kingsville outscored UIW 23-13 in the third quarter.
FOURTH PERIOD
Joslyn Smith began the fourth with a steal and layup to extend the Javelina lead to four.
The back and forth continued with Lily Hospers connecting on both free throws to tie the game at 61 with 5:56 left to play.
Debose's dialed up her third triple of the game with 5:14 remaining as the Hogs regained a one-point lead.
The Cardinals were able to give themselves a five-point cushion with 2:48 left to play, but Moore reached double figures with 11 points with 2:34 left and then forced a turnover. UIW closed the game on a run to take the victory, improving to 2-9 on the year.
NEXT UP
Texas A&M-Kingsville resumes Lone Star Conference play inside the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court versus Texas A&M University-Commerce Jan. 5 and Tarleton State University Jan. 7. The Javelinas are 2-2 in conference action with wins over Texas Woman's University and Midwestern State University.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For complete coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball, please follow @TAMUKwbb on Twitter and @TAMUKwbb on Instagram, like the /JavelinaWBB Facebook page, and visit the official home of Texas A&M-Kingsville Athletics at JavelinaAthletics.com.
