CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Ending on a 10-0 run down the stretch, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team rallied for a 58-52 thriller over Nicholls Saturday at the American Bank Center.
The Islanders (12-5, 5-1 SLC) were down 52-50 in the fourth but senior
Mireia Aguado splashed the open three-pointer for the late reversal. The A&M-Corpus Christi locked down Nicholls (8-10, 2-4 SLC) down the stretch as the Islanders ended on a 10-0 scoring run for the comeback to cap an undefeated home weekend.
Although it was slow from the field on both sides, the Islanders capitalized on Nicholls's turnovers for 24 points. A&M-Corpus Christi also converted 21-of-29 free throws (.724) while only allowing the Colonels to shoot eight from the charity strip.
It marked the 100
th win for the program when playing at the American Bank Center.
Aguado shot 50 percent from the field (5-of-10) to end with 13 points. That was mirrored by graduate
Alecia Westbrook and senior
Paige Allen who also each contributed 13 points. With a final rebound at the game buzzer, Allen came away with the double-double.
Nicholls was paced by four players scoring over 10 points, including the game's scoring leader in Britiya Curtis with 14 points.
After going down 8-0 to start the game, Westbrook finally got the Islanders on the board with the jumper and-one. Allen swished the three-pointer to tie things up at 8-all with 5:25 on the clock. It finally lit up the A&M-Corpus Christi offense who went on to outscore the Colonels 15-5 after the initial drought, holding a 15-13 edge after the first.
The Islanders got out to another slow start in the second quarter, as Nicholls reversed the score to lead 20-16. The shot from beyond-the-arc by Whitner finally tied it back up at 22 with 1:23 left in the half, and Westbrook's lay-in sent the Islanders to the break up 25-23.
The teams exchanged threes and the lead with six minutes to go in the third, with Willstedt's shot answering the Colonels for the 32-31 edge. The three by Whitner pushed it to a four-point advantage but Nicholls went back ahead 40-38 at 2:42. A late three by the Colonels gave them a 43-38 cushion going into the fourth.
The Islanders fought on, as Westbrook got fouled on the putback to make it a one-possession game to start the final quarter, though, Nicholls remained ahead 49-46 with 4:53 to play. The Colonels then connected from downtown to lead it 52-48 at 3:40 but it would be the last points allowed by the A&M-Corpus Christi defense. Allen's jumper brought the Islanders within two, and the huge three-point shot from Aguado gave the Islanders the late 53-52 edge. Needing a stop, Westbrook didn't allow Nicholls to get past half court on their next chance and drew the foul on the takeaway to add two insurance points.
Nicholls had no choice but to foul down the stretch as the Islanders capped the victory with a 10-0 scoring finish.
The game concluded the home weekend for the Islanders, who will now hit the road again next week to continue SLC play against Texas A&M-Commerce and Northwestern State.
NOTES
- The Islanders now lead the Colonels 15-9 in the all-time record and 10-2 at home. A&M-Corpus Christi has not lost to Nicholls since 2018-19.
- It marks the first win this season when the Islanders score under 60 points. They have scored at least 50 points in every game this season, the first time since 2018-19 that the Islanders have scored at least that many in each of the first 17 games of the season.
- It was the second time in conference play this year that the Islanders allowed less than 10 free throw attempts, and third this season.
- The Islanders outrebounded the Colonels 39-31. They are 10-1 this season when they outrebound the opposition and have outrebounded every SLC opponent this year.
- The Islanders are now 9-2 at home this season, 234-150 all-time at home, and 100-75 in the American Bank Center. With six home games remaining on the schedule, they are on track to posting its third consecutive season to win at least 10 games on their home court.
- Allen registered just her second career double-double and first this season. She has scored at least 10 points seven times this year, 38 times in her career, and second in a row. Allen has grabbed at least six rebounds in every SLC game so far.
- Aguado recorded her ninth double digit scoring game of the year, 11
th in her career, third in a row, and fifth in the last six games. She is having a coming-out season in her senior year, averaging 11.7 ppg in SLC play compared to her 4.1 ppg from last year.
- Westbrook submitted her 10
th double figure scoring game of the season, 71
st in her career, second in a row, and fourth in the last five games. Her six steals were two shy
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