CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - For the final game in the Dugan Wellness Center this season, senior
Alecia Westbrook showed out in front of a packed crowd to drive the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team to a 59-51 decision over UIW Wednesday night.
Westbrook proved to be the difference maker in the game after pouring in her season-high of 22 points, just one shy of her career-best, and grabbed 11 rebounds for the double-double. In addition, she made three blocks and got her new career-best of six steals through 38 minutes of play.
It was a battle of the top defensive teams in the league as the Islanders (7-6, 2-0 SLC) and the Cardinals (5-7, 0-2 SLC) struggled to score early but UIW ultimately held a 9-8 advantage after the opening quarter. Though, clutch three-pointers in the second quarter gave A&M-Corpus Christi the 23-20 edge at the half before the Islanders erupted in the third to shoot 63.6 percent from the floor and maintain a comfortable lead 43-33. UIW made a final push down the stretch to get within three with 1:41 on the clock, but six made field goals by the Islanders solidified the final 59-51 win.
The Islanders entered the game leading the league in rebounding margin at 3.1 and combined opponent rebounds at 34.0 per game, and will improve in both after outrebounding the Cardinals 41-32.
Redshirt senior
Makinna Serrata made three field goals for seven points before getting into foul trouble. Freshman
Bruna Anguera also made three field goals each to aid in the offensive effort while also grabbing six rebounds. Junior
Paige Allen added eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Islanders.
UIW was led by the near-20 point performance of Nina De Leon Negron who scored 19 off six field goals and by going a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. It was her six straight double figure scoring game and will improve her season average of 12.5.
The first quarter had UIW score seven of its nine points within the first four minutes for a quick 7-2 lead despite the jumper by Serrata to get the Islanders on the board. Westbrook started heating up, however, as she made a pair of free throws and immediately went the length to block a shot on the other end of the court at the 4:54 mark. UIW got inside for the shot to lead it 9-4, but another two at the line and a layup all by Westbrook cut the deficit to 9-8 by the end of the first quarter.
Junior
Violeta Verano opened the second quarter with the long-range shot to give A&M-Corpus Christi its first lead of the game at 11-9. It sparked some momentum as sophomore Annuka Willstedt fired one from deep herself at the 8:46 mark to keep the Islanders ahead 14-11. Westbrook got the steal and score with 5:27 remaining to make it a 20-16 game before another late bucket by her helped the Islanders to a 23-20 edge at the break.
Out of the half, the Islanders finally got into a rhythm with quick buckets by Serrata, Anguera, and Allen. Another three-pointer by Willstedt forced a UIW timeout after giving the Islanders a 32-24 lead. The inside shot by Anguera completed a 10-4 scoring run by A&M-Coprus Christi who took a 12-point lead with 4:16 remaining. UIW got some help at the line to try and extinguish the Islander threat, but the game headed to the final quarter with A&M-Corpus Christi up 43-33.
The biggest lead of the night came at the 6:32 mark in the fourth quarter after two free throws by Allen help the Islanders go up 49-35. UIW had shots start falling again in the fourth as they went on a 10-0 scoring run to make it a one-possession game (53-50) with just 1:41 remaining. The comeback was cut short, however, as A&M-Corpus Christi's defense stepped up to only allow the Cardinals to score one more point while three Islanders made their free throws for the 59-51 win.
The two teams will turn around and rematch each other on Saturday in San Antonio with a 2 p.m. tip-off.
NOTES
- The game marks A&M-Corpus Christi's eighth consecutive win over UIW, as the Islanders improved to 18-2 all-time and 10-0 at home against the Cardinals.
- It was the final game to be played in the Dugan Wellness Center this year. The Islanders are now 220-145 all-time at home, 59-29 in the Dugan Wellness Center, and have have outscored the opposition 386-291 at home this year.
- The Islanders entered the game ranked second in the conference in scoring margin (2.5), opponent FG% (.370), and opponent 3FG% (.276). They will improve in all three categories with a 9.0 scoring margin, and holding UIW to a .333 field goal percentage and .143 three-point field goal percentage.
- A&M-Corpus Christi is an undefeated 7-0 this season when holding the opposition to under 60 points, and 6-0 when scoring more second-chance points.
- The Islanders have not dropped a home contest in the Dugan Wellness Center to a current member of the Southland Conference since the 2015-16 season against HCU.
- Westbrook submitted her 23rd career double-double, fifth this season and second in a row. She now averages a double-double in conference play with 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds. She entered the game leading the league in rebounding at 9.2 rpg and will improve after grabbing 11.
- Anguera matched her career-best of six rebounds, set two times previously against Texas A&M and Texas Lutheran.
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