Jan. 7, 2006

Final Stats

COMMERCE, Texas - It might have taken a little longer than they would have liked. But the Texas A&M University-Commerce women overcame two overtime periods, along with a desperation three from Midwestern State that tied that game at the end of regulation, to clinch a 91-86 win in Lone Star Conference crossover play.

Tina Banks cleared MSU's bench with a running three from the top of the key to tied the game at 74-all as time expired in the second half.

The 7-5 Lions, who remain undefeated in six games at the Field House this season, led by as many as 17 points near the end of the second. A quick 16-3 swing including four threes in the 4-8 Lady Mustangs' favor cut that to a 67-63 Lion advantage in less than three minutes.

Stacey Staten connected from deep and got within a point of tying at 72-all with five second left. The Lions inbounded to Kanani Marshal, who was immediately fouled and sent to the line. She hit both shots to give the Lions a three-point edge with four second on the clock. After a time out, Brown raced down the court and heaved a runner just outside the arc as the clock hit all zeros.

That momentum carried the Lady Mustangs in first few minutes of overtime. The Lions regained the lead with a foul shot from Katedria Mosley but could never gain much separation until Marshal landed two of her game-high seven threes in succession. MSU just as quickly tied the game with a free throw at 82-all with 36 seconds to play, but Katherine Maples missed the backend of her trip to the line.

Banks tried to save the game again for MSU in the final second of the first overtime but was swatted away by Katedria Mosley, leaving the game to be decided in a second overtime.

MSU jumped out ahead early again in the next period. Portia Mitchell laid in two more layups and Althea Byfield added a third to put A&M-Commerce up 88-84 with 2:20 remaining. One last score from Maples cut that by two as the Lions shut MSU down the final minute of the game.

Andrea Lewis sealed a Lion win with two free throws with one second left for the game's final points.

Marshal ended the contest with 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting as the Lions shot 58.8 as a whole from long range (10-of-17) and 46.3 percent from the field (31-of-67). She added a game-high four steals.

Lewis, Mosley, and Mitchell recorded 12 points in the highest point total all season for the Lions. Mosley also complete her third double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.

Rashida Wilson dished 13 assists, the highest total for the school in at least the past seven seasons.

Maples added 20 points and 15 boards for the Lady Mustangs in the loss. Also scoring in double figures were Sonya Courtney (18), Katie Robertson (14), and Brittni Burks with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lions travel to Denton to play Texas Woman's on Jan. 12 and then to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Jan. 14 for the final LSC crossover game of the season.

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