KINGSVILLE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team defeated A&M-Kingsville 78-71 on Thursday night. The Lions finished the third quarter on a 9-0 run and had another big run in the fourth quarter to seal the road win.
 
The win brings the Lions to 9-3 on the season and 4-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lions are now 5-2 on the road this season. The Javelinas fall to 7-4 on the season and 2-3 in conference play.
 
The Lions will now head to Angelo State on Saturday to take on the No. 5 ranked team in the country. The game will start at 2 p.m. at the Junell Center in San Angelo. The game will be followed by the A&M-Commerce men's team.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Artaejah Gay led the Lions with 20 points, her third 20-point game of the season. She also had a season-high eight rebounds.
- Khala Riley tied her career high with 19 points. She also had six assists and eight rebounds and was a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc. She also had three steals.
- Jenna Price had 13 points and set a career-high with 16 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds.
- Brianna Wise went 3-of-4 from deep to finish with nine points. Natalie Hessong hit two threes to finish with eight points. The Lions hit seven threes, a season high.
- The Lions had a 12-0 run between the third and fourth quarters to build a 12-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED The Javelinas played stifling defense to begin the game, getting a pair blocks and turning them into transition buckets. The Lions rebounded and cut off the early momentum to even the score midway through the first quarter. 
 
Wise had the hot hand early for the Lions, hitting back-to-back threes. The Lions were strong on the boards and took their first lead with three minutes to go in the quarter. The Lions pushed their lead to four after a three-point play by Gay. The Javelinas hit a buzzer beater three from 35 feet out to take a 22-21 lead into the second quarter. 
 
The teams traded leads through much of the second half. The Javelinas went on a 6-0 run to take a five point lead midway through the quarter. The Lions the responses with a 7-0 run to retake the lead. Price had a fast break layup and long jumper as part of the run.
 
Riley hit both of her threes in the second quarter, scoring eight points in the quarter. The Lions held off a late Javelina run and took a 42-39 lead into halftime.
 
Riley led all scorers in the first half with 12 points to go along with four assists. Gay added 11 points and four rebounds. Price had six points and six rebounds. Kaylee Kana and Meesha Wade each had nine points to lead A&M-Kingsville.
 
The Javelinas started the third quarter on an 8-0 run, before the surge was halted by a three point play from Gay. The Javelinas pushed their lead to seven with six minutes to play in the quarter.
 
The Lions stormed back as Price had back-to-back hustle plays, getting a bucket in transition and another on an offensive rebound. Gay made her mark, scoring on three consecutive trips down the floor, inside the paint. The Lions ended the quarter on a 9-0 run and took a 59-53 lead into the fourth. 
 
Riley hit another three to start the fourth quarter. Price played with her hair on fire, grabbing two consecutive offensive rebounds, eventually getting a three to fall from Natalie Hessong. Price also had a three-point play. The Lions eventually led by 12 points, their largest of the game. 
 
The Javelinas wouldn't go away. They cut the lead down to six midway through the quarter by going on a 10-2 run. The Lion lead was trimmed to four points with two minutes to play, but A&M-Commerce played tough defense down the stretch to get the win.

HEAD COACH JASON BURTON
On the Lions' overall performance
I'm really pleased. We've been off for a while and it's easy to get some rust and not come out and play hard here. I think this was the best game we've played in Kingsville since I've been here. It was a close game, but I thought our team played with energy. Our bench was engaged the entire game and people came into the game and stepped up.
 
On individual performances
How about Jenna Price coming in as a freshman and getting 16 boards for another double-double. People have gone down to injury and other people have continued to step up. [Arteajah Gay] came out and was engaged the whole game, was aggressive and scored 20 points. The job that Khala Riley did running this offense, playing the minutes she played, she didn't really turn the ball over, rebounded, and scored 19 points. She's been a great floor general for us all year.
 
Penina [Faumui] came in and did a great job rebounding. Her energy keeps plays alive and she did a great job. This was the best game she's played this year I thought.
 
Natalie [Hessong] came in and is shooting the ball really well. She gives us something we haven't had all year. You have to guard her out there, you have to guard her from well beyond the three-point line. The three she hit in the early second half was about three feet behind the line, and it was huge for us because Kingsville had gone on a run and she knocked that three down to stop the bleeding. It's great to have her back.
 
[Artaejah Gay] played really well. She's always had that offense. At first she got a shot blocked and then she started facing up, and that is something she added to her game by really concentrating on it over the break. She also did a great job defensively and rebounding the ball.