GUNNISON, Colorado- The Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team took to the court inside the Paul Wright Gym, otherwise known as the highest collegiate gym in the world, to take on the Western Colorado Mountaineers. The Javelinas would excel at 7,723 feet above sea level defeating the Mountaineers 74-60.
"Extremely proud of our group tonight." said coach
Michael Madrid. "That was a team win in so many ways. We were able to spread some minutes out and get 40 points from the bench. We need to get more consistent on both ends of the floor and have so much room to grow. This is a fun group to coach and we are looking forward to our next opportunity".
Sophomore
Shelby Ray led the day in scoring with 18 on the day, while Junior
Mia Rivers was right behind her with 16. Rivers also had 9 rebounds and two steals on the day going 7-16 from the field and playing 27 minutes in the game.
TAMUK outshot Western Colorado going 49.1.% from the field, and 50.0% from beyond the arc, leaving the Mountaineers shooting 41.2% from the field and 42.9% from deep. The Javelinas also out rebounded their opponent grabbing 35 boards to Western Colorado's 26.
The Javelinas would not waste any time getting things started as only 16 seconds passed before
Veyda Lake would score the first points of the game. The Javelinas would continue to roll starting things on a 10-3 run, before the Mountaineers came withing three after draining two deep balls making it 12-9 with 4:44 left to go in the first. The Javelinas would respond with a three of their own from
Alyssa O' Malley, before another Mountaineer three made things 15-12 with 2:58 left in the first. O' Malley would help her cause later in the quarter sinking two free throws making it a 19-12 game with 1:20 left in the quarter. The Mountaineers sharpshooting would get them another three ball before a
Mia Rivers layup would cap off the quarter for the Javelinas making it 22-15 heading into the second.
The Mountaineers would begin the second with yet another three before the Javelinas went on an 11-3 run making it a 24-18 game increasing the lead to six with 3:04 left in the half. No scoring would take place again until the 1:16 point where each squad traded blows WCU with three balls and TAMUK with two Rivers layups with 16 seconds left to go in the half putting the Javelinas on top 37-27.
Jayde Tschritter would add on a couple free throws with three seconds to go before the half, sending both teams to the locker room with the Javelinas in front 39-27.
The third quarter would see the Javelinas starting out the first three minutes and fourty six seconds on a scoring drought as the first points would be a
Devon Williams layup at the 6:14 point making things 41-32.
Shelby Ray would continue the scoring for the Javelinas with two back-to-back three balls putting the score at 47-35 with 2:34 left to go in the third. The Mountaineers would respond however going on a 5-0 run making it 47-40 with 1:12 left to go in the third. The Javelinas would end the quarter however going on a 7-1 run of their own, five of which came from
Aina Maynou.
The fourth saw both squads battling it out neither able to get going on a run, until a
Georgia Ohiaeri Free Throw started a 9-2 run ending at the 5:05 marker with a Western Colorado jumper. Two
Shelby Ray jumpers and a pair of
Aina Maynou free throws left the Javelinas on top 74-58 with 1:55 left in the game. The only scoring that would remain is two free throws from the Mountaineers finalizing the game at 74-60.
The Javelinas are back on the road next time out heading to Alamosa, Colorado taking on the Adams State Grizzlies November 18
th at 6:30 PM CST.
Follow the Javelinas all season long by visiting javelinaathletics.com to find links to live stats and streaming information as well as a recap at the end of each contest. To keep up-to-date with Javelina Women's Basketball, follow the program on Facebook /JavelinaWBB or Twitter @Javelina_WBB. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network.
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