SAN ANTONIO – A fast start to the first quarter wasn't enough to steal a road win for the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball program on Saturday at Bill Greehey Arena as St. Mary's snuck away with the decision in overtime at 64-62 in the Lone Star Conference divisional matchup.

"Tremendous effort by our group," said head coach Michael Madrid. "They gave themselves a chance to win the game. I'm proud of who we are and how we are growing."

The Javelinas (3-10, 2-9 LSC) led by as much as 14 early in the game, but the Rattlers (8-7, 7-4 LSC) chipped away at the lead throughout the second half before tying the game at the last moment of the fourth and pulling away in the extra frame.

The first quarter was all TAMUK after cracking the game open with seven straight points as sophomore Jalynn Johnson (Sugar Land, Texas) and junior Anastacia Mickens (Beaumont, Texas) put up an early lead. Johnson posted the opening trey and followed up with a mid-range jumper a minute later, while Mickens buried a driving layup of her own at the 6:22 mark.

The hosts broke the drought with a jumper from Sydney Hardeman, but a three-ball from sophomore Bridget Upton (George West, Texas) ignited another 7-0 run for the Javelinas to close out the frame as Johnson drained a jumper before Upton ended the scoring with a fastbreak layup and a 14-2 lead going into the second. The two points is lowest total this year the Javelinas have allowed in a quarter from their opponents, and it is the 11th time the team has held an opponent to fewer than 10 points in a frame.

The Rattlers finally found their offensive rhythm in the following stanza as they cut the gap to eight by the 6:16 mark. A layup from redshirt-sophomore Bri-Anna Soliz (San Angelo, Texas), followed by a long-range shot from Upton pushed the total for TAMUK before StMU closed to 19-11.

Another layup from Upton that put her at 10 kept the hosts at arms' length, while Mickens added the next five for the visitors, three from the stripe and another on a layup for a 26-18 lead at the 2:25 mark. StMU almost closed the half on a 7-3 run, as redshirt senior Angelica Wall (Pueblo, Colorado) drained her third three-pointer of the year, but a buzzer-beater from junior Daisah Purnell (Kansas City, Mo.) ensured the Javelinas held a comfortable 32-25 lead going into the locker rooms.

Both sides resorted to trading baskets through the majority of the third with the Rattlers getting the first look with four straight to start the frame. TAMUK added the next eight, courtesy of back-to-back three-pointers from Soliz and Upton, to set the score at 40-29 at the 7:22 mark.

Every basket from the hosts after that point was quickly matched by the visitors as the quarter ended with the Javelinas on top, 50-38, after Purnell had the last say once again on a long-range shot with 44 seconds remaining in the frame.

The fourth quarter was where StMU laid the foundation for its comeback as a free throw from Mickens was the only point coming from TAMUK's side for the first eight minutes period. 11 straight points from the Rattlers whittled the cushion down to 51-49 before a pair of free throws from Soliz ended the scoring drought.

Clinging to a three-point lead, a desperation heave from beyond the arc went off target for the hosts but a crucial foul sent Bella Hughes to the line where she summarily sank all three free throws and single-handedly sent the game into overtime.

Unfortunately, the scoring woes continued for the Javelinas as they failed to make a field goal in the extra period. Five points at the line was all TAMUK managed while the pivotal moment came on an and-one from beyond the arc as Hughes drained the three and tacked on the free throw for a 64-60 edge with less than a minute to play.

Upton added the final two from the stripe for the visitors while her go-ahead shot from beyond the arc fell short in the final moments as the Rattlers snuck past the Javelinas at 64-62.

Upton posted a new career high 16 points in the contest, going 5-for-12 from the field and 3-for-8 from beyond the arc, as she added four rebounds and four assists to her total.

Mickens was close behind with 15 points on 4-for-8 from the field, 7-of-9 from the line, along with seven rebounds. The 15 points became her new personal best at TAMUK, surpassing the 14 points she put away against St. Edward's earlier in the week.

Soliz rounded out the trio with 11 points and seven rebounds, surpassing her season-best of nine points in the comeback win over Texas Woman's on January 4.

Purnell added eight points off the bench for TAMUK on a 3-for-6 clip.

The Javelinas are back at home next week for Pack The House night against West Texas A&M on Thursday, January 23, at the Steinke Physical Education Center for a 5:30 p.m. CT tipoff.

Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. To keep up-to-date with Javelina Women's Basketball, follow the program on Facebook /JavelinaWBB or Twitter @Javelina_WBB

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