Homecoming Heroics

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi continued its hot play this Saturday, earning a homecoming win over visiting New Orleans 75-68. Four Islander individuals tallied double-digit performances against the Privateers, led by 17 from starter Emma Young.

A sluggish start to the early afternoon contest put the Islanders behind the eight-ball in the first quarter, as UNO hit eight of 13 with a trio of three-pointers in the opening 10 minutes of play. Dalesia Booth would single-handedly keep the Blue and Green within firing range of the visitors, scoring 10 points in the first quarter off of just six shots.

Down 24-15 into the second, the rest of the Corpus Christi offense would begin to pick up, and slim the Privateers' lead to just five before the half. Starting guard Dae Dae Evans registered six points in that quarter alone, to finish the half with six points and three assists. 

The Islanders doubled up on UNO regarding points in the paint during the first half, scoring 24 inside the lane, despite getting outrebounded 37-32. Corpus Christi got out to an 18-6 run to start the third quarter, with 13 of those points coming from Emma Young and Brittany Mbamalu. The former would score 14 points in the second half to finish with her team-high 17, as the Islanders put up 43 in the latter 20 minutes.

The Blue and Green would lead for the remainder for the contest after going ahead in the first two minutes of the third period. The side hit seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter to put their fifth straight win on ice. Coach Royce Chadwick's players are on their longest win streak of the season thus far, holding the second-longest stream of consecutive wins in the conference.

• Dae Dae Evans finished with a career-high eight rebounds, tied for a team-best of the afternoon with starting center Uri Jolivette
• Booth hit her first four shots against UNO, and has put up 30 points combined in her previous two performances
• Evans came within two assists of tying her career-high in assists as well, recording six helpers overall
• Brittany Mbamalu became the seventh-highest scorer in Islander history after scoring her 15. She has 1,092 points in her career
• None of the Islanders' point guards recorded a turnover on the evening, as Mbamalu, Evans and LaJaneira Robinson combined for 15 of the Blue and Green's 21 helpers

COMING UP NEXT
The Islanders will be treated to a pair of ESPN streamed road games this coming week, going on the road to play Stephen F. Austin and Lamar. The Blue and Green will be seeing the Lady Jacks for the first time this season, while looking for redemption of their loss to the Cardinals earlier this year.

STAY SOCIAL
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