KINGSVILLE, Texas – Riding a 21-3 run in the third quarter, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball program erased a 15-point deficit against UAFS on Friday at the Steinke Physical Education Center to secure the season opener at 84-75 of the 2020-21 campaign.

MICHAEL MADRID POSTGAME INTERVIEW | BRIANNA PENA POSTGAME INTERVIEW

The Javelinas (1-0, 1-0 LSC) found themselves down 45-30 with 1:41 to play in the second quarter but put away nine of the last 11 points of the half ahead of the third-quarter blitz that handed the Lions (0-1, 0-1 LSC) the loss.

Three members of the Blue and Gold scored in double figures as junior transfer Brianna Pena (Weslaco, Texas) led with 18 points on an 8-for-13 clip from the floor. Classmate Mia Cherry (Brock, Texas) dropped in 16 of her own on a 6-for-12 mark alongside five rebounds and three assists, while freshman Veyda Lake (Houston, Texas) tabbed 12 points off the bench on a 5-for-7 rate.

The Javelinas shot 34-for-73 in the game for a 46.6 percentage as both were better than any single-game mark from the 2019-20 season. The point total of 84 was also higher than any game from the previous year and most since the 86-84 upset of No. 2 West Texas A&M at home on January 10, 2019.

UAFS jumped out to an early 10-3 lead in the first by the 6:21 mark before Pena, Cherry and Lake teamed up to cut the cushion to 12-9 by the 4:56 mark. The first lead of the game for TAMUK came shortly after when Cherry drained the long-range shot at 2:59 for a 15-14 edge and used a 7-0 run that gave a 22-21 advantage heading into the second.

The visitors used a 15-2 run over five minutes in the second to put the hosts in a 36-26 hole with 3:52 to play, but after a few traded baskets it was senior Anastacia Mickens (Beaumont, Texas) who sparked the run to end the frame as the 47-39 score favored UAFS at the break.

Freshman Devon Williams (Gonzales, Texas) catalyzed the 21-3 run at the start of the third as her contested layup at the 9:39 part was the first of six points for her. Cherry added seven of her own behind a pair of treys, Lake tacked on another four, while Pena and freshman Rebekah Hailey (College Station, Texas) both put away two.

The 62-55 lead at the end of the third grew to double digits behind a three-ball from Mickens at the 7:09 mark of the fourth, followed shortly after by a layup from Lake that pushed the lead to 12. The Javelinas never allowed the Lions within six points from there en route to the 84-75 final.

Game two of the season-opening doubleheader against UAFS is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, at the SPEC.

POSTGAME HIGHLIGHTS

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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