SAN ANTONIO – Sophomore
Violeta Verano turned in career-highs of 22 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals to headline a 58-53 win for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program over UIW on Tuesday at the McDermott Center.
It marked back-to-back non-conference victories for the Islanders (8-6) over the Cardinals (4-7) after winning 62-43 at home on Sunday.
A&M-Corpus Christi, which picked up its first road win of the year, shot a season-high .538 (7-13) from long distance while holding UIW to a .176 (3-17) three-point clip.
Verano's big night came after she drilled six field goals, including a 5-of-8 mark from three-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Off the bench, sophomore
Nabaweeyah McGill continued her hot streak with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Senior
Makinna Serrata neared a double-double with 10 points and five rebounds.
The Islanders outrebounded the Cardinals 35-26 and were aided by junior
Alecia Westbrook's 11 rebounds. Westbrook is the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week winner.
UIW was led by the league's leading scorer Jaaucklyn Moore who finished with 15 points and six rebounds. It was a bounce back game for her after being held scoreless Sunday at the Dugan Wellness Center. Destiny Terrell scored 10 points.
The only time A&M-Corpus Christi trailed was in the first quarter. Down 17-12 with 2:06 left, the Islanders used a field goal from Serrata and an old-fashion three-point play by McGill to tie it. McGill then hit two free throws with five seconds left to keep it even 19-19 at the end of one.
The combo of Serrata and McGill kept at it in the second as they scored the first two baskets to make it a 23-19 game. A three by Verano extended it to 32-24 late in the quarter and the Islanders were still in front 32-26 at the half despite UIW scoring the last bucket.
A&M-Corpus Christi led 36-30 in the third after a jumper by sophomore
Paige Allen when the Cardinals reeled off five straight to cut it to 36-35 with 4:34 left. The Islanders answered by scoring the final five points in the frame to go up 45-39 after a jumper by sophomore
Mireia Aguado and a last-second three by Verano.
The Cardinals stayed close in the entire fourth quarter but could never tie it up. A&M-Corpus Christi was ahead 53-51 when Westbrook converted a key second chance bucket with 2:50 remaining and Verano made free throws in the final minute to seal the game.
It was A&M-Corpus Christi's third consecutive win over an SLC opponent in a non-conference game.
The streak started with a 61-56 victory over HBU last Wednesday. The impromptu scheduling came after the SLC Preseason Tipoff was canceled on the women's side.
A&M-Corpus Christi will play UIW again on Saturday, but the game will count towards the conference standings. Tip is set for 1 p.m. at the American Bank Center.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 15-2 all-time against UIW and 7-2 on the road. The Islanders have won five straight in the series.
- The Islanders entered the night leading the SLC in field goal percentage (.407), rebounding margin (+4.5) and assists (15.3) and will improve upon all three marks after shooting .488 from the floor with a +9 rebounding margin and 18 assists.
- Verano doubled her previous career-high of 11 points set at Tulane. She tied her career-high of seven assists, topped her rebounding high of four at Tulane and steals high of three against St. Edward's. Verano netted her third double-figure scoring game of the year. She entered the game leading the conference in assists (4.3 apg) and will improve upon her average.
- In just 13 minutes of action, McGill registered her eighth career double-figure scoring game, sixth this season and third in the last five games. She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
- Serrata recorded her 20th career double-digit scoring performance, ninth this season and second in a row. Her eight rebounds were one shy of a career-high.
- Westbrook continued her streak of securing at least eight rebounds in every game this year. It was her 20th career double-figure rebounding game and ninth this season. Westbrook entered the night leading the league and ranked 14th in the nation in rebounds per game with 11.2 and was right on par.
- The Islanders are now 8-0 when leading at half. They are also undefeated when they outrebound the opposition.
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