The Lions open the 2015-16 season with a 63-59 win over Metro State.

TEAM LEADERS
A&M-Commerce
Points: Amari Jones, 15
Rebounds: Audrisa Harrison, 11
Assists: Princess Davis, 8
Steals: PrincessDavis, 2
Blocks: Amari Jones, 3

Metro State
Points: Georgia Ohrdorf, 14
Rebounds: Georgia Ohrdorf, 8
Assists: Two players with two assists each
Steals: Jarlynn Smith, 4
Blocks: None
 
First Half
The Lions came out strong in the first half of the first official game of the 2015-16 season. The Lions went into the half up 32-24 shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 61.5 percent from the free throw line. The Lions struggled from three putting up nine shots from distance but failing to hit one. Fortunately, the Roadrunners did not do much better putting up sic shots from the three point line but not converting one as well. Although the Lions struggled in the shooting game, their defense was good in the first half as they protected the paint with three blocks in the half. The Lions loss the turnover battle with nine in the first half but the Roadrunners were able to squeez out only four points off of them. Meanwhile, the Lions found the net for nine points off of CSU-Pueblo's six turnovers. Amari Jones had a team high of seven points to end the half.

Second Half 
The Lions continued to win the quarter battle after taking the third quarter 18-15 but was in store for a wild finish. Metro State refused to lay down and outscored the Lions in the forth quarter 20-12 as they slowly cut into the lead that A&M-Commerce possessed throughout the game.
 
Late in crunch time, J'Nae Squires-Horton hit the only three of the contest; better yet an enormous three to pull the Roadrunners within three points (63-59 Lions) with 57 seconds left. After a 30 second time out, The Lions inbound the ball and Metro State's leading scorer Georgia Ohrdorf fouls with 37 seconds left in the game that sends her to the bench with her fifth foul.
 
With the nine seconds left on the clock and the Lions still leading 63-59, Shomari Harris misses a jump shot and the Roadrunners grab the rebound and signals for a quick timeout to have one more chance to send the game into overtime. Now with seven seconds left on the clock and down by three, Metro State figures to get the ball back into Squires-Horton's hands to tie the game. However, her sixth three-point attempt results in a miss and the rebound for Princess Davis ultimately ends the game giving the Lions their first win of the season.


INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions shot 39.3 percent (24-61) from the field and missed all nine of their threes. Conversely, they held the Roadrunners to 36.4 field goal percentage (24-66) and a 9.1 three-point field goal percentage (1-11).
• A&M-Commerce out rebounded Metro State 44-36. 29 of them came on the defensive end although the 15 offensive rebounds showed to be cutch in the game as they outscored the Roadrunners in second chance points 18-5.
• Both teams shot over 70 percent from the free throw line.
• Amari Jones and Khala Riley got into the double digits in the scoring column. Jones had 15 points on 6-10 shooting (3-6 free throw) and Riley added 12 points and shot 5-9 from the floor (2-4 free throw). Audrissa Harrison led the team with 11 rebounds and added eight points. Princess Davis had a good game as well dishing out eight assists with six points.
• Georgia Ohrdorf led a trio of Roadrunners in double digit scoring. Ohrdorf finished with 14 points shooting 5-12 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the stripe. She also led the team with eight rebounds and was tied with Janae Paine with two assists; another team high. Hannah Stipanovich was right behind Ohrdorf with 13 point (5-17 shooting) and added six assists. Emily Hartegan rounded out the bottom of the trio with 12 points.
• Georgia Ohrdorf and Luisa Tago both fouled out (Ohrdorf out with 37 seconds left in the game).

 
Burton's Corner
When asked about:
…the Lions performance…
"I am very proud of our team and the way they came out to play tonight. To beat a very good Metro State Team in Colorado is a tall task and they carried it out."
…tonight's shooting…
"They played their tails off on defense and it made up for our terrible shooting from three. Also, to hold a good shooting team to 9 percent from the three-point line, we accomplished a goal we had which was to hold them under 30 percent! Incredible job."
…tomorrow night's game versus CSU-Pueblo…
" Everyone contributed and we need everyone to do it again tomorrow with a quick turnaround tomorrow night. We will need to take care of the ball better, shoot better, and play defense like we did tonight to win tomorrow."
 
What's Next
The Lions will see the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves for the first time in program history. Jim Turgeon is a first year head coach for the Thunderwolves. Turgeon came from Iowa Western Community College after eight seasons where he posted a 191-65 record. Preseason First Team All-RMAC selection Senior Ashley Piper returns to the team. Piper received First Team All-RMAC honors after averaging 13.7 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, and shot 86.2 percent from the free throw line that ranked fourth in the RMAC.

GAME INFORMATION
Sets: A&M Commerce 62, Metro State 59
Records: A&M Commerce (1-0, 0-0 LSC), Metro State (0-1, 0-0 RMAC)
Series: A&M Commerce are 1-0 against Metro State
Location: Massari Arena Pueblo, Colorado
Time of Game: 6:30 p.m.