STEPHENVILLE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team lost 65-59 to Tarleton State on Tuesday. After falling behind by 19 entering the fourth, the Lions cut the TexAnn lead to just four points but could not close the gap.
 
The loss brings the Lions to 15-8 and 10-5 in the Lone Star Conference. TSU improves to 17-6 and 10-5 in conference play.
 
The Lions return to action on Thursday with a road game against Texas Woman's. The game will be played at 7 p.m. at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- After trailing by 19 entering the fourth, the Lions scored 30 points in the fourth quarter. The Lions scored more in the fourth quarter than the first three combined.
- Princess Davis (Shreveport, La.) led the Lions with 16 points and also led the team with eight rebounds and five assists.
- Alexis Bryant (Pflugerville) had 12 points, including six from the foul line. Alexus Jones (Lewisville - Aledo) also scored in double figures with 10.
- The Lions had 28 turnovers in the game, 23 of which came in the second and third quarters. Tarleton also struggled with ball security, turning it over 26 times.
 
HEAD COACH JASON BURTON AFTER THE GAME
- Thoughts on the game: "It was a tough Tuesday game on the road. We came out of the gate and played a good first quarter. But I felt like we got comfortable and allowed them to make a run. And we didn't make a run back. You just can't dig yourself a hole like that where you have to fight back in the fourth quarter. Not on the road. Not against a good team like Tarleton State. The way it is shaping up, there's a good chance we may see them in the conference tournament."
- On the struggles in the second and third quarters: "We followed a good first quarter with a 15-turnover second quarter. We were careless with the ball and didn't get stops. Then in the third quarter, we kept turning the ball over and we shot nine percent. We allowed that lead they had to grow to 19."
- On the team's fourth quarter run: "We found a way to score 30 points in the fourth quarter and put ourselves in position. But we didn't have enough at the end of the game. We ended on a positive note, so we know we have it. There is no quit in this team. They gave all they had and I'm proud of that fight. If one or two things happen differently, it's a one-possession game there at the end. I'm proud of this team. We have a lot of fight left. It is going to be a fun stretch. I'm looking forward to these last five games and looking forward to Frisco."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions started the game on a hot streak, making three of their first four shots. TSU held serve, making shots of their own. The teams traded buckets as midway through the first, Tarleton held a 10-9 lead. The Lions battled back and finished the quarter on an 8-4 run to take a 17-14 lead into the second quarter.
 
A lid was placed on the bucket for the Lions in the second quarter as they struggled from the field. After scoring four early points to take a five-point lead, Tarleton went on a 12-0 run over a six-minute span to take a 28-21 lead. Turnovers plagued both teams, but hurt the Lions more as they had 15 turnovers in the period. The Lions went into halftime trailing 29-24.
 
Jones led the Lions with seven points in the first half. Davis added six points and added four rebounds. The Lions committed 18 turnovers in the first half, 15 of which came in the second quarter. TSU had 12 first half turnovers but scored 15 points off of Lion turnovers.
 
The Lion shooting woes followed them into the third quarter as the team shot just 1-for-11 in the frame. The Lions also had eight more turnovers in the quarter. The TexAnns took advantage, scoring the first 10 points of the period. The Lions had just one field goal in the quarter while TSU had nine baskets. The Lions went into the fourth quarter trailing by 19.
 
The Lions began to battle back to begin the fourth. The bucket seemed to get back to normal size as the Lions started the period on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to single digits. For the next several minutes, the teams traded baskets as the Lions trailed by 10 midway through the quarter. Both teams went without points over a two-minute stretch before the Lions  scored five more in a row to cut the TexAnn lead to just five points with two minutes remaining. The Lions cut the lead to as few as four but it was just not meant to be for A&M-Commerce. Late threes would not fall and TSU made enough free throws to come away with the six-point win.