Islanders Prevail in Overtime at UIW

SAN ANTONIO – Junior Makinna Serrata scored the game-winning bucket with eight seconds left in overtime as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program defeated UIW 60-58 at the McDermott Center.
 
The Islanders (5-11, 3-5 SLC) led 51-49 at the end of regulation when Jaaucklyn Moore from UIW (5-6, 3-3 SLC) hit a lay-up with one second left to send the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, A&M-Corpus Christi trailed 58-54 with 1:26 left when it came back to tie the game on buckets from sophomore Alecia Westbrook and Serrata with 46 seconds remaining. After a turnover, Serrata converted the final basket on a lay-up in the paint.
 
Serrata finished the game with career-highs of 16 points and nine rebounds. She was 6-of-14 from the floor and dished out a pair of assists.
 
Westbrook registered 10 points and matched her career-high 13 rebounds to go along with a pair of steals and a block. She logged a career-high 40:31 minutes played.
 
Serrata and Westbrook helped the Islanders outrebound the Cardinals 47-38 in the game.
 
UIW was led by Moore's 20 points and five rebounds.
 
In the first quarter, the Islanders trailed 8-7 with 2:54 left when they ended it strong. A three-pointer by freshman Paige Allen put them ahead 13-10 and a long-range shot by sophomore Hayle Campbell made it 16-10 going into the second.
 
Buckets by Westbrook and freshman Elijah Pricebrooks extended the advantage to 22-11 midway through the second. UIW used a 10-2 run to get back in it and trailed 24-21 with 1:28 to go. A&M-Corpus Christi carried a 28-23 advantage into the intermission on a last-second three by senior Giana Wright.
 
The Islanders were still in front 33-28 in the third when the Cardinals went on a 6-0 spurt to take a 34-33 lead in the final two minutes. Though, A&M-Corpus Christi again closed the quarter strong with four points from Wright to maintain a 37-34 edge heading into the final period.
 
In the fourth, sophomore Olivia Dowden registered five straight points, including an old-fashion three-point play to put the team up 42-34 with 8:42 remaining. A jumper by junior Alexandria Pollard increased it to 48-39 with 4:47 left.
 
The Cardinals stormed back in the final four minutes and used a big 10-0 run to go up 49-48. The spurt ended with a three-pointer by Serrata, but Moore's jumper with a second left sent the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, A&M-Corpus Christi found itself down 58-54 when it came back with baskets from Westbrook and Serrata to tie it 58-58 with 43 second left. Both teams had chances with the ball in the end, but UIW's final turnover led to Serrata's game-winner. The Cardinals had one last chance, but a three-pointer with two ticks was off the mark.
 
The Islanders will look to extend their winning-streak to three games Monday when they host Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. at the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 13-2 all-time against UIW and 6-2 on the road. It was the third straight win in the series.
 
- It was the program's first overtime win since Nov. 8, 2013 when it beat Western Illinois 66-60 in the Emerald Beach Islanders Classic.
 
- The Islanders pulled down 15 offensive rebounds and outscored the Cardinals 12-5 in second chance points.
 
- Serrata topped her previous career-high of 14 points set at Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 2. It was her fifth double-figure scoring game in the last six outings.
 
- Westbrook tallied her eighth double-double of the season and 12th double-figure scoring game. She was coming off a 15-point, 12-rebound performance in the win over New Orleans. Westbrook entered the game ranked second in the conference in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and will improve on her average.
 
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