CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Redshirt senior
Makinna Serrata of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program reached the 1,000-career point milestone as the team fell short of a comeback against Lamar, dropping 73-68 on Saturday at the American Bank Center.
The Islanders (14-10, 9-4 SLC) went down 25-10 to the Cardinals (14-10, 8-5 SLC) in the opening quarter but cut the deficit to just 39-31 at the break after a big 21-point second quarter. Lamar stayed out in front through three, but the Islanders powered back within 71-68 following the fast break bucket by senior
Alecia Westbrook for the late surge. Though, the rally came too late as the Cardinals held on for the win.
Lamar shot 88.8 percent from the field in the first quarter for the quick start. The Islanders outscored the Cardinals 20-16 in the final quarter but couldn't repeat the come-from-behind victory like in the previous meeting this year when A&M-Corpus Christi beat Lamar in the final minute after erasing a 12-point deficit in the fourth.
Serrata poured in 17 points following her season-high performance of 23 points on Thursday. She became the 12
th all-time Islander to reach 1,000 career points and second this season, as Westbrook achieved the milestone exactly two weeks prior. Serrata also recorded her career-high of four blocks, topping her previous-best of two, set six times.
Serrata was one of four Islanders to score in double figures. Westbrook recorded the game-high 22 points while junior
Paige Allen and freshman
Bruna Anguera each scored 12. The 12 points matched Anguera's career-high.
The Cardinals also had four players in double figures, including 17 points from both Portia Adams and Sabria Dean. Lamar ended the day with a 55.6 shooting percentage.
Westbrook got the Islanders on the board at the 9:01 mark to tie it 2-2 before the Cardinals went on a quick 8-0 scoring run. Anguera drew the and-one and completed the three-point play to make it a 10-5 game, but nearly every shot fell for the Cardinals who took the 25-10 lead.
The long-range shot from Allen got the Islanders within 10 at the 7:07 mark in the second quarter. Serrata layed in another shot before immediately getting the steal-and-score to cut Lamar's lead down to 27-21 with 6:13 remaining. Another three-pointer by Allen made it 30-26, though, the Cardinals would regain a double-digit lead. A pair of free throws by Westbrook ended the half and cut Lamar's lead to 39-31.
The Islanders held Lamar to its lowest shooting of the game in the third with a 41.18 mark. Layups by Westbrook would get A&M-Corpus Christi back within five points twice, Lamar held a 54-44 edge with 1:43 remaining. Serrata's 1,000
th career point came at the 0:23 mark off a jumper which made it a 54-48 game. Though, Lamar beat the buzzer and nailed a three to lead it 57-48 heading into the final quarter.
Junior
Violeta Verano knocked down a three following the steal by Allen to make it 63-56 with 5:17 remaining. Lamar led it 71-57 at the 1:49 mark, but the Islanders threatened with the last-minute surge as Westbrook's layup was met with the three from Serrata following the turnover by the Cardinals. Another Lamar turnover turned into free throws for Serrata who knocked both in to make it 71-64. Back-to-back layups by Westbrook kept the rally going to make it a one-possession game for the first time since the first quarter, but Lamar managed to hold on and win it 71-68.
The Islanders will hit the road next week to continue conference play, first stopping at Nicholls for a Thursday night matchup and then to McNeese for a Saturday rematch. A&M-Corpus Christi will be going for the season-sweep over both teams.
NOTES
- Lamar continues to lead the all-time record, as is now 19-13 against the Islanders. In the previous meeting this year, the Islanders trailed for 31:13 minutes of the game but overcame a 12-point deficit for their first win in Beaumont since the 2019-20 season.
- The Islanders are 87-76 all-time in the month of February. Under head coach
Royce Chadwick, they are 100-84 all-time in the Southland Conference.
- It was only the second time this year that a conference opponent outrebounded the Islanders, who entered the game leading the Southland in rebounding margin at 5.4.
- Serrata recorded her 50
th career double figure scoring game, 18
th this season and eighth in a row. She has scored at least 10+ points in 11 of the 13 conference games. She entered the game ranked third in the Southland at field goal percentage at .491 and will improve after shooting 7-of-13 from the floor.
- Westbrook submitted her 56
th career double digit scoring game, 17
th this season and fourth in the last five games. Additionally, it was her seventh career 20+ scoring performance and third this season, all of which came in conference play.
- Allen turned in her 28
th career double figure scoring game, 12
th this season and 10
th in conference play. She entered the game averaging 1.8 steals per game and will improve after grabbing four.
- Anguera recorded her second ever double-digit scoring game. Her 12 points matched her previous-best, set at Texas State back on Dec. 12 where the Islanders won 56-47.
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