Box Score SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's basketball team dropped the final game of the Cal Poly
Holiday Tournament Saturday night to the host Mustangs, 63-48.
Freshman guard Emmeri Archer lead the Islanders in just her second game of the season coming off of an injury. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native was the only player to eclipse the 10 point mark as she put in 12 on the night, including 10 in the second half alone.
"Emmeri is making a difference for us because she doesn't play outside of her capabilities," noted head coach Royce Chadwick. "She is a freshman who basically missed a month of practice and is only going to get better."
The Islanders (1-4) shot out to a 14-5 lead over Cal Poly in the first seven minutes of the game. Senior Olivia Fouty helped the team to its early lead with six points. Desoto, Texas native Camesha Davis added four points during the run.
The lead was short-lived as the Mustangs (3-3) were able to cut into their nine-point deficit and eventually take the lead thanks to the hot shooting of Taryn Garza (11) and Beth Balbiers (8) who led Cal Poly in the first half. The Mustangs were able to capitalize on turnovers, forcing the Islanders into 10 in the first half, which they were able to turn into 14 points. Cal Poly ended the half on a 27-6 run to take a 43-26 lead into the locker room.
Junior Shay Weaver scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds while sophomore Kassie Jones put in seven points in the loss.
The Islanders had trouble controlling the ball the remainder of the game as they turned it over a season-high 29 times. Cal Poly was able to capitalize on the Islanders miscues as they scored 29 of their points off of turnovers. The Mustangs also scored nine points after corralling nine offensive rebounds.
"If you turn the ball over like we did on the road, you are going to lose the ball game," noted Chadwick. "We didn't take care of the ball and we didn't execute our offense. We have a long way to go."
The Islanders will play the final game of its four game road swing on Dec. 6 when they travel to Texas-Pan American. After the UTPA game, the Islanders will play their next five games in the Coastal Bend. The team has played just one game at home this season.
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