February 2, 2013
SLUGGISH SECOND HALF SINKS LIONS, 75-65
Tarleton State 75, A&M-Commerce 65
Stephenville, Texas
Records: Tarleton State (14-4,10-2 LSC); A&M-Commerce (7-10, 5-7LSC)
Up Next: vs. Abilene Christian – Wednesday February 6 – The Field House – 5:00 p.m.
Stephenville, Texas – A&M-Commerce was only down five at the halftime break a stark improvement compared to last Saturday when these two sides squared off. Unfortunately the Lions shot just 22% from the field in the second half and dropped their sixth straight to the TexAnns.
The Lions started well in the opening twenty minutes, shooting 42 percent from the field and four of five from the free throw line. The two sides traded baskets before the TexAnns pulled out to a 10 point lead just over half way into the first. The Lions fought to cut the lead to five twice before the half. Both teams were held scoreless over the last 1:42.
Danielle Dixon, La'Tisha Hearne, Symone Brown had seven each in the first to lead the Lions. Brown added six rebounds to her seven points. Guard Aubree Butts added six points and three rebounds. Breanna Harris just four points and one rebound in the first half.
Tarleton State extended their lead to nine in the opening four minutes of the second half. The Lions helped out by opening the half going one of five from the field. From the 15:22 to the 12:41 mark both team went cold and neither team had a turnover in that span. All changes in possession were off missed shots.
Brown hit a three-pointer to cut the Tarleton State lead to three at 51-48 at the 10:01 mark of the half. That would the closest the Lions would get and Tarleton State slowly pulled away and got the lead to as big as 16 late in the second half before the Lions cut it to the final deficit of 10, 75-65.
Brown added nine more points in the second half to finish 16 points a new career high. Dixon added seven more to finish with 14 but was only 2-8 from the field in the second half. Hearne and Harris each had five points and six rebounds each in the second half.
Harris' streak of double digit efforts and double doubles came to end in Stephenville with her nine point and seven rebound game. Aubree Butts stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and no turnovers.
The Lions will return home to the Field House as they host Lone Star Conference Rival Abilene Christian for the final time as the Wildcats will move to the Southland Conference next season. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday as part of a double-header with the men.
