Lubbock - The Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team put together a stellar fourth quarter, holding No.23 Lubbock Christian to just six points, but fell just short of completing its comeback, losing 57-54 to the Lady Chaps on Thursday night.
The Javelinas outscored their top-ranked opponent by 13 in the second half, holding LCU to just 3-of-21 shooting. They paired that with big second-half scoring performances from key contributors, including a 10-point fourth quarter, but were unable to close out their late comeback push.
"I'm proud of our effort," Head Coach
Michael Madrid said. "Played well in a tough environment against a quality team. We got better tonight, excited to get back to work tomorrow."
Kingsville's grittiness and fight were on display from the tip, as the team responded to an early punch from LCU. After the home team jumped out to a 10-2 lead, TAMUK punched back, closing the frame on a 10-3 run that included an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman guard
Jade Perez and the second career made three pointer for junior forward
Katy Frost. The Lady Chaps again came out swinging in the second quarter, opening up a lead as large as 18 points in the waning minutes of the first half. While that run continued into the second half, the Javelinas refused to go down without a fight.
"We didn't defend as well in the first half and let their shooters get open," Madrid said. "I thought we were much better the second half. Concentrated and forced tough shots."
Despite its deficit growing as large as 19, the team began to claw its way back into the game late in the third quarter. Trailing its hosts 44-25, TAMUK's offense woke up in a big way, scoring 14 of its 20 third-quarter points in the frame's final 4:36. The Javelinas carried that heat into the fourth without skipping a beat, extending their tear into a 25-8 run that brought the squad to within two points. The run was keyed by Perez, Howell, and redshirt junior guard
Kaycee Groves, who combined to score 29 of the team's 35 second-half points. The squad's defense clamped up as well, postering LCU shots and keeping the team without a made field goal in the fourth quarter.
Within two points, however, was as close as the team got, as the Lady Chaps did just enough to stave off the red-hot Javelinas and secure the win. Howell and Perez finished tied for the team-high in scoring with 13 points each on a combined 10-of-15 shooting. Groves added 11 points of her own, the third game in a row that she's scored in double figures.
Kingsville will continue its road trip on Saturday in Wichita Falls with a 1:00 p.m. matchup against the Mustangs from Midwestern St..
