Islanders Overpower UNO for Key Southland Win

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Powered by a pair of career-high scoring efforts from Olivia Dowden and Mireia Aguado, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi seized an early lead and never looked back to down New Orleans 57-49 Wednesday evening at the Dugan Wellness Center.

Dowden's 15 points paced three double-digits scorers for the Islanders, as Aguado poured in 14 and Makinna Serrata extended her double-figure streak to three games behind a 10-point performance.    

A Mia Deck triple in the opening 30 seconds proved to be the Privateers lone lead of the contest, as Alecia Westbrook banked a layup and Dowden sunk a pair of free throws to hand the Islanders its permanent edge. A&M-Corpus Christi continued to add to its first-quarter lead behind a Dowden three and Serrata fast-break layup to quickly stretch the margin to six, 11-5, before UNO manufactured an 8-4 run to close the gap to two to end the opening period.

The Islanders thwarted the Privateers' initial comeback effort with a game-best 7-0 run that culminated in a Aguado jumper to push it to a 24-15 contest with 3:06 left to play in the half. UNO managed to get as close as four, but A&M-Corpus Christi headed to break with the narrow 30-25 advantage.

UNO scored the next three points in the third slice it to one as the Islanders' offense stalled to start the third but Westbrook once again kicked off a scoring run for the home squad that saw six-straight points to create a 36-29 cushion at the 4:35 third-quarter mark. However, the Privateers continued to stick around, drawing it to a single possession game on three separate occasions during the period.

A&M-Corpus Christi dominated in the final stanza, as UNO never got closer than four points the rest of the way and the Islanders ballooned the lead to eight three times thanks to the duo of Dowden and Aguado. Serrata also scored half of her 10 points in the final period to help put the game on ice and seal the Islanders' first Southland victory of the season.

Mia Deck led the Privateers with 11 points, while Zoe Cooper neared a double double with nine points and seven rebounds.
 
The Islanders travels to Huntsville, Texas in a Wednesday, Jan. 27 outing against Sam Houston State slated for a 6:30 p.m. tip.    

Notes

• Olivia Dowden's career-high 15 points and four steals paced three double-figure scorers for the Islanders, as Aguado also tallied a career-best 14 while Serrata completed the trio with 10.
• Westbrook, Nabaweeyah McGill, and Giana Wright grabbed five boards apiece to lead Chadwick's squad; the total ended a four-game, double-figure rebound streak for Westbrook.
• The victory signaled the Islanders' first league win of the season and maintained its perfect home record against UNO.

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