It took a three-point play by Lindsey Van Dorn with 1:30
remaining in the game for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islander
women's basketball to take the lead for good Sunday afternoon and
hold off Texas A&M-Commerce for a 65-63 win at Circle K Court
at the American Bank Center. The Islanders improved to 9-7, while
the Lions fall to 8-7.
Trailing 60-59 after a layup by Katedria Mosley, Van Dorn grabbed a
missed shot by Terra Andrews and scored on a putback. She was
fouled by Kanani Marshal in the process and hit the free throw to
give the Islanders a 62-60 advantage.
After a steal by Andrews with under 30 seconds remaining, Kirbria
Lewis was intentionally fouled by Rashida Wilson. Lewis hit
one-of-two free throws for a 63-60 lead. On the ensuing possession,
Jenesis Shaw was fouled and hit both free throws for a five-point
lead with 17 seconds left.
Marshal, who finished with 20 points, hit an off-balance
three-point basket from the top of the circle to cut the Islander
lead to two, 65-63.
Following a missed free throw by Lewis, Wilson tried a desperation
three-point basket but it was no good.
The Islanders started off slow trailing by eight after an Althea
Byfield basket made the score 12-4 at the 15:50 mark.
The hosts tied the game at 14 with a 12-2 run. Andrews, who led
A&M-Corpus Christi with 20 points and recorded her second
straight double-double with 11 rebounds, scored six straight to
start the run. A jumper by Kirbria Lewis at the 14:40 mark made the
score 12-10. Lewis fed Mercedes Cooper for a jumper on the wing
after a Lion basket. A steal by Van Dorn led to a Lewis layup to
knot the game at 14.
A trey by Marshal capped a 7-0 run by Commerce for a 21-14 lead,
however the Islanders answered with a 19-2 run for a 33-23 lead
with 2:10 remaining. Andrews had eight points in the run, while
Cooper had six points and a steal.
The Lions pulled to within five, 33-28 at the intermission by
scoring the final five points of the half all from the foul line.
Commerce finished the first half by hitting 10-of-13 free throws,
while A&M-Corpus Christi was only 3-of-9.
Commerce opened the second half with a 13-4 run to take a 41-37
lead on Marshals three pointer with 15:35 remaining.
The lead changed 10 times the rest of the way in the see-saw
battle.
Lewis and Cooper joined Andrews in double digits with 12 points
apiece. The 12 points tied Cooper's career-high. The Islanders
struggled with their shooting finishing the game by hitting
27-of-68 shots with just one made three-point basket. The team was
just 10-of-19 from the foul line. The Islanders did win the rebound
battle 45-41 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 19.
Katedria Mosley joined Marshal in double figures for the Lions with
15 points. She added a game-high 13 rebounds. Commerce hit six
threes in the contest while making 20-of-57 field goals for 35.1
percent. They stayed in the game by hitting 17-of-22 free
throws.
The Islanders now hit the road for three straight games. The road
swing begins with a 5 p.m. contest Saturday at Texas-Pan
American.
