SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Despite leading after the first quarter, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team struggled to get shots to fall in a 73-44 defeat to Nebraska to close out the week in the Puerto Rico Clasico at the Robert Clemente Coliseum.
The Islanders (2-4) led 14-12 after the first quarter over Nebraska (4-2) with the help of going 6-6 at the free throw line. However, a big second quarter for Nebraska switched the momentum and had the Huskers on top the rest of the way. Nebraska was 44.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from long-range while the Islanders shot just 27.3 from the field.
Senior
Alecia Westbrook led A&M-Corpus Christi with 14 points, her third double figure scoring game this season. She also dished out her season-high three assists and pulled down five rebounds. Westbrook was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
Redshirt senior
Makinna Serrata got nine points and six rebounds while sophomore
Annukka Willstedt pulled down her season-high four rebounds.
The Huskers had four players score in double figures, including a 23-point performance by Annika Stewart who drilled a trio of three-pointers.
Although the Huskers struck first, a 12-5 lead came in the opening quarter for the Islanders off the jumper by Westbrook. A pair of free throws by Westbrook kept the Islanders ahead 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Nebraska started the second quarter hot with a 10-0 scoring run to reverse the lead for the first time since the start of the game. The Islanders only managed six points in the second from a layup by Serrata and four free throws to trail 35-20 at the intermission.
In the third quarter, the Islanders finally got a long-range goal to fall as junior
Sasha Shishkina shot from deep at the 0:41 mark. Junior
Violeta Verano and sophomore
Maya Ellis both netted threes in the fourth quarter for a late effort, but Nebraska closed out the 73-44 win.
Up next, the Islanders will face UTRGV twice next week as part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union. The first meeting is set for Nov. 29 in Edinburg before the competition heads to Corpus Christi on Dec. 3. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at goislanders.com/tickets or by phone at 361-825-BALL (2255). The ticket office can also be reached via email at tickets@tamucc.edu.
NOTES
- Nebraska was the third Power Five opponent for the Islanders this season. It was the second ever meeting between the two programs and first since 2001-02.
- A&M-Corpus Christi led after the first quarter. It was the second time this season the Islanders led after the first quarter against a Power Five opponent.
- A&M-Corpus Christi used the same lineup for both games in Puerto Rico, and for the third consecutive game.
- The Islanders shot 24 free throws compared to Nebraska's 14 attempts. A&M-Corpus Christi has shot more free throws than its opponents in every game this season.
- Westbrook etched her 42
nd career double-figure scoring game and third this year. She also recorded her season-high three assists.
- Willstedt's four rebounds topped her previous season-best of three set against Western Colorado on Nov. 20.
- Freshman
Bruna Anguera made her sixth career start, starting in every game this season. She is the only freshman on this year's squad, making this the first time since 2008-09 that the Islanders have only had one freshman on their roster.
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