Box Score CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team's late rally fell
short as it dropped its game to defending Southland Conference champion Northwestern State, 66-59, at the American Bank Center Wednesday night.
A&M-Corpus Christi (6-9, 2-2 SLC) did not score for nearly eight minutes from the 17:11 mark of the second half to 9:44, going 0-of-8 from the field. NSU's Janelle Perez scored 18 of her game-high 28 points in the second half, finishing 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Perez pulled down four rebounds while also dishing out five assists.
During the final two minutes of play, the Islanders shot themselves to within five, but timely baskets by Northwestern State's Perez and Presley Owens helped the Lady Demons to a 5-0 start in SLC play.
The Lady Demons (10-6, 5-0 SLC) were able to turn the Islanders' 13 miscues into 12 points on their way to a 21-of-47 (44.7) shooting night. NSU was also able to get its shots to fall from behind the arc, connecting on 10 treys in the game.
Arlington, Texas native Shay Weaver came out on fire for the Islanders, scoring the first seven points for the home team on her way to a team-high 24 points on the night.
The Islanders boasted a tremendous size advantage in the paint against the Lady Demons, with just two NSU players standing over 6-foot tall. AMCC was able to capitalize on the mismatch a few times in the first half although the game plan was to get the ball inside.
"I thought we were open in the paint a bunch, but we just didn't get the ball to them," said head coach Royce Chadwick. "We did a pretty good job of posting them up down there and when we did get them touches, they didn't drop a leg and play power basketball. That was a lot of our game plan and we did not execute."
Sophomore Camesha Davis put together her third double-double of the year in a 13 point, 11 rebound performance. The Desoto, Texas native pulled down nine of the team's 14 offensive rebounds.
"We had one girl getting on the offensive boards and we couldn't find her any help," noted Chadwick. "I thought Camesha Davis did a really good job on the glass, but we need to get more of a team effort on the boards."
A&M-Corpus Christi led by nine points in the first half at 27-18, but a late run by the Lady Demons eventually put them on top 30-29 with under a minute left in the half. Costly turnovers and cold shooting by the Islanders keyed the Northwestern State run. Perez and Owens led NSU in the first half with 10 and 8 points, respectively. Weaver ended the half for the Islanders with a layup at the 41-second mark, sending the home team to the locker room with a 31-30 lead.
Junior Jennifer Ramirez tied a career-high with nine points in the game. The 5-foot-6 guard went 3-of-4 from the field, including a late 3-pointer to pull the Islanders within five points with 2:07 left in the game.
The Islanders hit the road for a three-game road swing starting with Nicholls State on Saturday.
For the latest team information, like the team on Facebook (Islanders Women's Basketball), and follow the Islanders on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersWBB).
