ODESSA, Texas (Women's Basketball) – Despite shooting just 51.5 percent from the charity stripe, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (8-5, 3-4 LSC) drained six free throws in the final minute to defeat the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (5-8, 2-5 LSC), 70-66, Thursday evening in UTPB Gym.
Note: Head coach
Wade Scott postgame audio -
http://mixlr.com/kelvin-queliz/events/wbb-at-utpb
The Javelinas also made the most of UTPB's 22 turnovers, scoring 20 points off miscues.
Meesha Wade was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch and finished with 13 points.
Kaylin Roher tied her career-high (Nov. 14, 2015) with 21 points after going 4-of-6 from three-point range. The senior added four steals to match
Lily Hospers. Hospers and
Kaylee Kana pulled down 13 rebounds apiece, and eight of Hospers' came on the offensive end. Completing the double digit scorers was
Tee Moore, who finished with 10 points and
Shaq Debose came off the bench with eight points.
FIRST PERIOD
The Javelinas scored five unanswered points and went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 22-14 with 1:23 remaining in the period. Roher led all scorers early with seven points. Through the opening 10 minutes. A&M-Kingsville led 24-17.
SECOND PERIOD
The Hogs made the most of their second chance opportunities as Hospers collected five of TAMUK's 11 offensive boards that allowed Kingsville to tack onto its lead, 31-23, with 4:04 remaining. Roher was the first player in double figures with 10 and Hospers registered seven rebounds and two steals in just 12 minutes at this mark.
The Falcons rallied back but A&M-Kingsville took a 35-31 lead into the half. Roher led all players with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and the Javelinas shot 50.0 percent from three-point range. Hospers ended the stanza with seven boards and the duo combined for four steals.
THIRD PERIOD
Roher continued to carry the load offensive early in the second half to give the Hogs a nine-point cushion with 4:45 left to play. Heading into the final period of regulation, the Javelinas were up 50-45. Kana recorded double digit rebounds yet again, ending the third with 11 boards and Roher led all players with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
FOURTH PERIOD
UTPB strung together a 9-0 run to make it a one-possession ballgame with 5:51 remaining after back-to-back three-pointers.
Moments later, Moore's steal led to a Kana bucket with 2:50 left to give the Hogs a four-point cushion. On the ensuing possession, Hospers' 11
th rebound of the ballgame was her eighth offensive board and A&M-Kingsville was rewarded for attacking the glass with a Roher triple – her fifth of the game and 20
th point – with 2:05 remaining.
Clutch free throw shooting, something that has been an area of concern in recent weeks, clinched the victory for the Hogs and the win was capped off with a Hospers block with 22.1 seconds remaining.
The win is the first in Odessa in school history.
NEXT UP
The Javelinas head to the First United Bank Center to take on West Texas A&M University (12-4, 5-2 LSC) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Lady Buffs handed nationally-ranked Angelo State University its first loss of the season Thursday with a 68-61 victory.
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
West Texas A&M has dominated the all-time series, winning the last 14 meetings with a 55-9 overall record.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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@TAMUKwbb on Instagram, like the
/JavelinaWBB Facebook page, and visit the official home of Texas A&M-Kingsville Athletics at JavelinaAthletics.com.
