DENTON, Texas – 21 points in the second half from junior Ravae Payne (Pearland, Texas), including a 16-point outburst in the final frame, was just what the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball program needed on Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak at Kitty Magee Arena to clinch the first Lone Star Conference win for first-year head coach Michael Madrid at 57-53.

"Tremendous team effort by our group today," said Madrid. "They played extremely hard and executed on the offensive end. I'm thankful for the courage they continue to exhibit day in and day out."

The Javelinas (2-7, 1-6 LSC) found themselves down by as much as 13 in the game, but outscored the Pioneers (5-6, 3-4 LSC) by 15 in the second half to claim the win.

The 16 points from Payne in the fourth helped flip a 36-34 deficit at the start of the quarter as she was responsible for 14 out of 16 points over a four-minute stretch. Her shot from beyond the arc at the 6:04 mark knotted the score at 40 apiece while her mid-range jumper less than a minute later gave the Blue and Gold the lead for good.

By the time the dust had settled, Payne matched her career high of 23 that she first set in the loss to Texas A&M International on December 14 earlier this season. The transfer from South Plains finished shooting 8-for-15 from the floor, coupled with a 4-for-9 mark from the perimeter, and added three rebounds and three assists.

TAMUK took a roundabout way to get to the win as TWU opened the contest with a layup from London Archer and a jumper from Brielle Woods. The visitors responded with a pair of free throws and a jumper from redshirt sophomore Bri-Anna Soliz (San Angelo, Texas) to knot the contest at 4-4 with 7:24 remaining the first before the hosts pulled away off a trey from Macy Wilkerson on the following possession.

A layup from freshman Maeghan Palmer (Midlothian, Texas) kept TWU within three at 11-8 with 2:59 showing on the clock, but the Pioneers closed the stanza on an 8-0 run for a 19-8 cushion going into the second.

The Javelinas matched the hosts shot-for-shot throughout the following quarter as TWU held the lead at 30-19 going into the break. A quick jumper from Archer to start the third set the gap at 13 with 9:37 showing on the clock before TAMUK began its comeback run.

11 straight points from the Blue and Gold cut into the deficit starting at the 5:08 mark as sophomore Jalynn Johnson (Sugar Land, Texas) sparked the run with a driving layup. Payne followed with a three-ball, while a turnover on the following possession led to a jumper from junior Anastacia Mickens (Beaumont, Texas), and it was back-to-back layups from Johnson and Payne that set the score at 34-33 in favor of the hosts with 2:09 showing and prompted a timeout from TWU.

A couple free throws from Ma'K'La Woods put the Pioneers' total at 36 while the Javelinas got a free throw from Johnson to set the stage at 36-34 going into the final frame. Trinity Bell provided a pair for free throws to start the fourth while Johnson kept the visitors within striking distance on a perimeter shot at 8:21.

Payne's personal run starting at the 6:04 mark that gave the Javelinas the lead culminated in another trey with 2:20 showing for a 53-49 TAMUK cushion. The Pioneers closed within one off a traditional three-point play from Sadie Moyer, but Mickens and Payne ensured the Javelinas left the arena with their first LSC win of 2020 as the former poured in a layup and while the latter drained two shots at the stripe end the game.

Johnson finished with 10 points and three rebounds to go with two assists and a steal. Mickens, meanwhile, added eight points, five rebounds and three steals to her total, while Soliz posted nine points, seven rebounds and a pair of pickpockets.

The Javelinas return to the Steinke Physical Education Center next week against new LSC foe UT Tyler on Thursday, January 9, before A&M-Commerce pays a visit on Saturday, January 11.

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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