Big Third-Quarter Islanders Effort Falls Short at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi erased a double-digit Lamar lead behind a 22-point performance in the third and a trio of double-figure scorers, but the Cardinals held on in the closing moments to claim the narrow 54-50 outcome over the Islanders Saturday at the Montagne Center.

Alecia Westbrook once again headlined the Islander squad, posting her sixth double-double with a 12 point and 13 board effort. Two other Islanders reached the double-digit scoring plateau as Paige Allen matched the top spot with 12 points while Makinna Serrata collected 10.

The Islanders kickstarted their second-half comeback midway through the third with a 9-0 run that saw Nabaweeyah McGill tally all four of her points to dwindle a 11-point affair to three, keeping A&M-Corpus Christi within striking distance 41-38 against the Cardinals.

Serrata drained a pair of treys that accounted for six of her 10 overall points to lead the way in the Islanders' dominant 22-point outburst during the third stanza.

A tight fourth quarter began with another crucial spurt, as the Islanders rattled off seven-straight points highlighted by an Olivia Dowden jumper to claim the 47-45 edge, marking the first of four changes down the stretch.
 
An Islander miscue that resulted in a Jadyn Pimentel jumper handed Lamar the final lead switch, as an ensuing Cardinal bucket and free throws sealed the hard-fought 54-50 outcome.

Lamar started the contest on a 7-0 streak in the opening five minutes, an advantage that eventually ballooned to 12 points midway through the third before the Islanders engineered their offensive onslaught. The Cardinals forced 20 first-half A&M-Corpus Christi miscues that resulted in 12 points.

A&M-Corpus Christi found success from its bench, as Allen, Dowden, and McGill accounted for all 22 points while Lamar relied on its starters with only five coming from its reserves.
 
Micaela Wilson led the Cardinals with her own double-double effort, tallying 19 points and 11 boards while shooting 7-of-12 from the floor.

The Islanders return to the Dugan Wellness Center for a midweek meeting against New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.   

Notes

• Alecia Westbrook once again headlined the Islander squad, posting her sixth double-double with a 12 point and 13 board effort. Two other Islanders reached the double-digit scoring plateau as Paige Allen matched the top spot with 12 points while Makinna Serrata collected 10.
• Paige Allen, Olivia Dowden, and Nabaweeyah McGill accounted for all 22 of the Islanders' bench points.
• The Islanders outscored Lamar in the second half and used a big 22-point effort in the third to erase a double-figure Cardinals' advantage that resulted in a see-saw battle in the final period.

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