KINGSVILLE, Texas- The Texas A&M-Kingsville Women's Basketball Team would suit up for African Heritage Night in the Steinke Physical Education Center where they would outmatch the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Lions 78-43.
"Just a tremendous team effort by our team." said coach
Michael Madrid. "I loved our energy, obviously when you make shots, you continue to build on that and grow. I just thought from opening tip we were really energetic, we played really well defensively, we were able to create some turnovers which led to some baskets. Then offensively we were just free and loose and we played with a ton of confidence, and so, excited for everyone to get on the floor and play and just a great team victory".
Junior
Mia Rivers led the way again for the Javelinas, almost nabbing a triple double having 15 points, 9 Rebounds, and 8 Assists. She also had 5 steals to her line on the afternoon. Other Javelinas cracking double digits on the day were
Aina Maynou who walked away having 14 points with 3 Assists and a Rebound, and
Abby Bala who put up 10 points with 4 Rebounds 2 Assists, also swiping 2 steals.
The Javelinas were dominant in this one leading in most categories only falling behind the Lions in rebounds where UAFS has 43 to the Javelinas 41. Categories the Javelinas led were FG% shooting 44.8% to the Lions 25.4%, 3PT% leading 41.7% to 16.7%, Assists 23 to 10 and steals swiping 12 as opposed to the Lions 5.
The game would start out slow for the Javelinas as they would be victims to a 7-1 Lions run right out of the gates putting the score at 7-1 with 8:14 in the first. Two
Georgia Ohiaeri scores and an
Abby Bala layup would tie things up just as quickly however as the game saw itself tied with 6:14 left to go in the first. A
Shelby Ray three and a Lions layup would put things at 10-9 Javelinas in front with 4:46 left in the quarter. Both squads would go ice cold for three game minutes as the next score to come would be an
Aina Maynou three extending the lead to four with 1:48 left in the first. The Lions however would go on an 8-0 run to send the game into the second with them in the lead 17-13.
It would take a full two game minutes before any scoring was done, but
Mia Rivers would end the drought with a jumper closing the gap to two for the Javelinas as they still trailed 15-17 with 8:00 left in the second. Once again, a slight drought of scoring would occur as a one minute 14 second gap would take place before
Bala would tie things up at 17 with 6:46 left in the half. This would be the start of an 8-0 run for the Javelinas which would consist of a jumper, three, and free throw by
Bala, and a fastbreak jumper for
Rivers putting the score at 22-17 Javelinas on top with 3:39 to go in the second. A pair of free throws and a layup would keep the Lions in the game only down two with 2:15 left in the half, but the Javelinas would go on a 7-0 run with under two minutes to go to leaving the Lions only able to get a last second bucket making things 30-23 heading into the locker rooms.
Coming out of the half the half the Javelinas would get started early with a
Jayde Tschritter three to push the lead to 10.
Tschritter would strike again after a Lion jumper to keep the lead intact 35-25 with 9:03 to go in the third. Both teams would trade blows with a
Rivers jumper and a Lions Layup before
Maynou would heat up from beyond the arc hitting three straight putting the Javelinas on top 46-29 with 5:18 left in the quarter. A
Bella Sipowicz layup would supplement what would become a 11-2 run for the Javelinas 9 of which would belong to
Maynou.
Alyssa O' Malley would get on the board as she would add a jumper to a 7-0 run consistent of a
Rivers three and jumper as well as her own.
Rivers and
Bala would combine for 5 followed by a Lions three that would send the game into the fourth with the Javelinas up 60-37.
The fourth would start exactly like the third, with
Tschritter hitting a three early before the rest of the squad would get in on the action going on a 12-1 run that consisted solely of the deep ball. Putting the game at 72-38 with 6:13 left to go. It would be another 2:41 of game time before another Javelina score, but it would be
Brooke Lechleitner with the jumper and free throw that would end the game on a 6-2 run accompanied by a
Janessa Payne three to seal the Javelinas win 78-43.
The Javelinas will be home again next time out facing off against the University of Texas at Tyler Patriots Saturday for A&I Heritage night Thursday February 15
th, at the Steinke Physical Education Center, tip off slated for 5:30 P.M.
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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