DURANT, Okla.– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon. The Lions trailed for much of the first three quarters but outscored the Savage Storm 20-9 in the final quarter to win.
 
The win brings the Lions to 3-3 on the season while the Storm fall to 1-2 on the year.
 
The Lions return to action on Thursday as they open up Lone Star Conference action. The Lions will host Angelo State at 1 p.m. as part of Education Day, presented by Alliance Bank. The game will follow the Lion men's basketball game, which will begin at 11 a.m. against ASU. Tickets for the doubleheader are available at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756 or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions outscored SOSU 20-9 in the final quarter. The Lions shot 54 percent in the fourth while SOSU shot just 19 percent.
- Chania Wright (DeSoto) led the team with 13 points, draining three triples. Alexus Jones (Lewisville - Aledo) had 12 points, also making a trio of threes.
- Ekaterina Zhibareva (Liske, Russia) had nine points and co-led the team with 10 rebounds. Alexis Bryant (Pflugerville) also had 10 rebounds.
- Princess Davis (Shreveport, La.) led the team with a career-high nine assists and also had six points. Makayla Foy (Edmond, Okla.) and Mykiel Burleson (Pflugerville) had eight points apiece.
- 10 Lions scored in the game.
- The Lions scored 11 more field goals than SOSU but SOSU shot 16 more free throws than the Lions.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wright opened up the game with a three before SOSU made seven points in a row to build a lead. The Lions had early turnovers that led to the Savage Storm run. Midway through the quarter, SOSU held a 12-7 lead. Foy hit consecutive jumpers as the Lions cut the lead down to three late. The Storm finished the quarter on a mini run and led 23-15 after one.
 
The Lions started the second quarter on a 9-0 run. A steal from Agang Tac gave her a basket and a chance for a three-point play. Tac missed the free throw but no one boxed her out and she got the rebound and laid the ball in. After a defensive stop, Davis found Jones streaking down the sideline for an easy layup. Wright then made a three to give the Lions the lead.
 
The Storm built their lead back up to six before the Lions rallied again, going on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 32. Consecutive threes by the Storm gave them a lead again and the Lions went into halftime trailing 43-39. Foy led the team with eight points in the half while Zhibareva had seven. Both teams shot better than 45 percent from the field in the half. The Lions got to the line just once in the half while SOSU made all eight of its free throws.
 
The Lions opened up the second half with a three before SOSU built its lead back up to seven points during a Lion drought. Midway through the third, SOSU held a 51-44 lead. The Lions then started to crawl back. Burleson scored consecutive buckets in the paint. Maddison Glass also got into the lane as the Lions cut the Storm lead to one point late. SOSU took a 58-56 lead into the final quarter.
 
The Lions took the reins in the fourth quarter, starting the period on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. Jones hit a three and Wright hit a jumper and scored two from the line. The Lions held a 65-58 lead two minutes into the quarter. SOSU cut the Lion lead back to three but the Lions would not allow a comeback. The Lions pushed their lead to as many as 12 in the quarter.