COMMERCE, Texas – Despite four Javelinas scoring in double-figures, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team were unable to defeat #10/7 A&M-Commerce, falling 81-71 in The Field House on Thursday,
 
"I thought our players played extremely hard throughout the game and were able to make some runs late," said coach Michael Madrid. "We committed entirely to many fouls and put Commerce at the line to much. We will learn from this and move forward in preparation of our next opponent." 
 
The Lions (16-2, 5-2) kept the Javelinas (13-5 6-1 LSC) at arm's length throughout the contest, snapping a seven-game Blue and Gold win streak and delivering TAMUK's first conference loss of the season behind a solid first-half performance. 
 
Junior Brianna Pena (Weslaco, Texas) led the game in scoring, logging 20 points on a 50.0% shooting clip, while sophomore Kryslyn Jones (Edmond, Okla.) was not far behind with 17, hitting 7-8 shots from the floor. Sophomore Georgia Ohiaeri (Las, Vegas, Nevada) and freshman Mia Rivers (College Station, Texas) scored 10, with Rivers going 8-10 from the charity stripe and leading the game in assists with five. 
 
Additionally, senior Anastacia Mickens (Beaumont, Texas) topped the match in rebounds with six. 
 
Pena knocked down a jumper to open the contest before a 9-0 run by the Lions handed A&M-Commerce the lead. TAMUK proceeded to go on a 9-2 burst of their won with Jones capping off the run with a three-pointer that tied the game at 11, Back-to-back baskets by the Lions allowed them to snag a four-point lead that they carried into the second quarter. 
 
With the score 22-18, A&M-Commerce played stellar defense in the second, holding TAMUK to a 2-15 shooting mark in the frame, outscoring the Javelinas 14-8, and heading the locker room up 10. 
 
The Javelinas slowly chipped away at the deficit to open up the third, narrowing the TAMUC lead to six on a Pena layup, before Laila Lawrence roared back, scoring the following six points for the Lions and delivering a 12-point lead. Jones beat the buzzer to close out the third, with TAMUK trailing 58-48 entering the final frame. 
 
The teams traded blows to kick off the fourth quarter as the Lions matched the Javs shot for shot through the first five minutes before Ohaieri and Pena combined for a 7-2 that saw the deficit cut to five. Back-to-back buckets for TAMUC kept the Javelinas at arm's length while clutch free throws allowed the Lions to cement a 10 points victory. 
 
The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday, as they take on UT-Tyler in the Louise Herrington Patriot Center, with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. 
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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