COMMERCE – The No. 3 Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team fell 58-55 to West Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon. Trailing for much of the game, the Lions went on a huge run in the final period only to fall in the final minute of regulation.
 
The loss brings the Lions to 25-1 on the season, and 19-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lady Buffs improve to 24-5 and 17-3 in conference play.
 
The Lions will head on the road for their final two games of the regular season. They will begin by facing Oklahoma Christian on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. A&M-Commerce will then face Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
HEAD COACH JASON BURTON AFTER THE GAME
CLICK HERE for coach Burton's postgame comments
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-  Alexus Jones (Lewisville – Aledo) had 14 points to co-lead the Lions in scoring. She also had a game-high five assists.
- Dyani Robinson (Cypress – Langham Creek) also had 14 points, and also had four rebounds.
- Mykiel Burleson (Pflugerville) also had double-figure scoring with 10 points.
- The Lions struggled from the field throughout the game, shooting just 31 percent, while WT shot 50 percent. The Lions found second chance opportunities with their 24 offensive rebounds in the game.
- The Lions also had a +6 advantage in turnovers in the contest, scoring 24 points off of giveaways.
- The Lions finished the regular season with a record of 12-1 at the Field House.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions struggled from the field in the early going, missing their first 12 shots. WT hit three of their first four, taking a 11-0 lead midway through the quarter. The Lion offense found its footing late, and its defense caused multiple WT turnovers, allowing the Lions to climb back into the game. Robinson converted two fast break opportunities as the Lions finished the quarter on a 9-3 run to trail 13-9.
 
The Lions cut the WT lead to just two points early in the quarter as the teams battled back and forth. Neither team could go on an early run, as midway through the quarter, WT held a 19-16 lead. The Lions were strong on the offensive glass, as they converted on several second-chance opportunities. A three from Burleson tied the game late, and a three-point play from Burleson with three second left in the half sent the game into halftime tied at 28.
 
Burleson led all scorers with 10 points in the first half, while Robinson added eight points and Jones had seven. The Lions shot just 10-of-33 from the field but had 10 offensive rebounds to give themselves extra chances.
 
It was again a slow start to the second half, as WT started the half on a 7-0 run. The Lions broke the streak from the foul line, trailing 35-30 at the middle of the third quarter. Kernal had multiple buckets as the Lions .once again began to find the bottom of the bucket. However, WT continued to convert, taking a 44-40 lead into the final quarter.
 
Shooting struggles again plagued the Lions early in the fourth quarter, and missed free throws hurt the team in its attempt to mount a comeback in the first minutes. Midway through the quarter, the Lions trailed 51-42.
 
However, the Lions did not quit, and fueled by its home crowd, mounted a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take its first lead of the contest. Glass had four points in the run as the Lion defense again made things tough on the Lady Buffs. The Lions led 55-51 with 90 seconds remaining. However, it was not meant to be as the Lady Buffs scored the final seven points of the game to escape with the upset.