CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's 18-game home-winning streak came to an end after dropping a 75-49 decision to Washington State on Monday night in the Dugan Wellness Center.
It marked the first home loss for the Islanders (5-6) since March 3, 2021 after they posted a 14-0 home record last season for the first time in program history. The 18 consecutive home wins was the longest home streak in program history and prior to this game, the second longest active home-winning streak in the nation.
A&M-Corpus Christi hung tough with the Cougars (9-2) in the first half, including outshooting them .454 to .333 in the opening quarter. Despite a 20-point second quarter for the Islanders, Washington State led it 39-31 at the half and pulled away in third quarter after shooting .714 from the floor. A late defensive effort by A&M-Corpus Christi was not enough as the Cougars remained comfortably ahead to close out 75-49.
Senior
Alecia Westbrook led the scoring for the Islanders with 11 points. She also grabbed six rebounds, earned one block and forced three turnovers. Junior
Paige Allen joined Westbrook in double figures with 10 after going 4-of-9 from the field, two of which came from beyond-the-arc. Junior
Mireia Aguado added seven points.
Washington State was paced by the 20-point performances from both Charlisse Leger-Walker and Tara Wallack. Combined, they went 16-of-25 from the floor and each pulled down seven rebounds. Leger-Walker entered the game averaging 22.2 points per game.
The Islanders struck first as Westbrook got the scoring started in the paint with just one second remaining on the shot clock. The 2-0 lead would be short-lived as Washington State answered with a three-pointer to take its first lead of the game at the 6:59 mark. That lead grew to 13-6 before the long-range goal fell for sophomore
Jaeda Whitner to get the Islanders back within four. Another layup by Westbrook made it a one-possession game with 0:56 remaining in the first, but the Cougars managed another bucket to lead it 15-11 heading to the second.
Shots by Westbrook and sophomore
Maya Ellis kept the Islanders within four through the first four minutes of the second quarter before long-range goals started falling for the Cougars, who got up to a 30-18 lead at the 5:01 mark. Allen netted a three-pointer in response for a 30-23 score with 4:18 on the clock. Washington State put up another three with just 12 seconds remaining in the first half to lead it 39-28, but junior
Sasha Shishkina beat the buzzer and knocked in her own three-pointer as the Islanders trailed just 39-31 at the intermission.
The third quarter featured long-range goals by Allen and junior
Violeta Verano early to keep the Islanders within nine, but Washington State began pulling away as the Cougars shot 10 field goals to go up 62-42 to start the final quarter. Except for a final layup by senior
Hayle Campbell at the 0:43 mark, the Islanders scored solely from the free throw line in the fourth quarter as the Cougars closed out the 75-49 win.
The game concluded the nonconference slate for A&M-Corpus Christi and was the final game before Christmas break. The Islanders, who were predicted to win the league, will begin their Southland Conference campaign on Dec. 30 at Northwestern State at 1 p.m. CT.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 219-145 all-time at home and 58-29 in the Dugan Wellness Center. The Islanders have outscored the opposition 327-240 at home this year.
- Monday was the first-ever meeting between A&M-Corpus Christi and Washington State. The Cougars are the first Power Five team to play in Corpus Christi since 2012 when the Islanders hosted Indiana.
- The Islanders opened and closed the nonconference schedule against a Power Five opponent. They faced four total this season: Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Washington State.
- Allen matched her career-high of making two three-point field goals in a game. She submitted her 18th career double figure scoring game and second this season.
- Westbrook recorded her 45th career double figure scoring game and sixth this season. Her three steals were one shy of her career-high.
- Freshman
Bruna Anguera topped her previous-best of two assists with four. Her five rebounds was one shy of her career-high.
- Junior
Nabaweeyah McGill matched her season-best of two blocked shots. Both came in the fourth quarter just 1:20 apart from each other.
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