KINGSVILLE, Texas - Hoping to force the weekend split, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball program ended up on the backend of a 60-49 Lone Star Conference decision on Saturday at the Steinke Physical Education Center against St. Edward's to close out the divisional weekend of play.

MICHAEL MADRID POSTGAME INTERVIEW

The Javelinas (6-8, 6-8 LSC) were even with the Hilltoppers (5-9, 5-6 LSC) at halftime but ended up stuck in a seven-minute scoring drought during the third as they suffered the hard-fought home loss.

Junior Mia Cherry (Brock, Texas) led the Blue and Gold off the bench with 13 points on a 5-for-12 look combined with a 3-for-7 clip from beyond the arc. Senior Anastacia Mickens (Beaumont, Texas) provided the effort in the paint with nine points and eight rebounds, while freshman Mia Rivers (College Station, Texas) put up seven points in her second career start.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair for both squads as SEU held a six-point edge midway through the opening frame at 14-8 before TAMUK put up the final four points for a 14-12 deficit going into the second.

The visitors pushed their cushion up to eight in the second quarter but the hosts battled right back and used a trey from Cherry to spark an 8-0 run that knotted the contest at 20-20 past the media timeout. Both sides ended up with six more points in the remaining minutes for a 26-26 evened count at the break.

The Javelinas put up the first seven points of the third for a 33-26 advantage before getting caught in the scoring drought. The Hilltoppers tied the contest once again at 33-3 of a Jazmine Jackson free throw following another media stoppage, while a freebie from Justina Chan moments later put TAMUK in a chase for the rest of the game.

The score remained a one-possession game ahead of the final media timeout before SEU put up seven points to push its lead out to 55-46 with three minutes left and never let TAMUK closer than seven en route to the final.

The Javelinas head out on the road next week as they face A&M-Commerce for back-to-back games at the Field House in Commerce, Texas, starting on February 12.

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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