LAKEWOOD, COLO. – Holding a lead for 32 of the 40 minutes, the No. 10 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team starts off its season with a perfect 2-0 record in the tournament hosted by Colorado Christian at the CCU Events Center, beating the Cougars, 83-74, on Saturday afternoon.
 
A&M-Commerce beat Colorado State-Pueblo and Colorado Christian to start the season. The Lions shot 50 percent from the field in the first quarter on Saturday and also hit a trio of three-pointers. In the game, the Lions shot 47.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond-the-arc. The Cougars shot 43.3 percent from the field.
 
"We did not come out ready to play today but once again, showed some resilience and found a way to win," said coach Jason Burton. "We are going to get everyone's best shot so we have to be ready to play every game."
 
"We picked up two big wins in Colorado this weekend over RMAC teams that will have big postseason implications for us if we continue to take care of business."
 
The Cougars started out in the front and led by four at the 3:37 mark of the first quarter, 16-12. A three-pointer by Ravae Payne (Pearland), another by Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek), and a shot from deep from DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) gave the Lions their first lead of the game on the 9-0 run.
 
The Lions ended the first quarter on an 11-4 run and took a 25-20 lead to end the quarter on a jumper by Laila Lawrence (Lewisville).
 
Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) played three minutes and 36 seconds off the bench in the first quarter but shot a perfect 4 for 4 from the field for eight points. James finished with 19 points, a career high. She had six rebounds and Lawrence had six rebounds and 12 points.
 
"One major strength for us is our bench. Laila (Lawrence) and Symmone (James) showed up in a major way for us today, both scoring and rebounding. We had great defensive play off the bench from Mia Deck and Asiyha Smith," added Burton.
 
Robinson led the team with 20 points and three steals. Kernal had 13 points and seven rebounds. Chania Wright (DeSoto) had five points and team-leading four assists. Payne had seven points and five rebounds; Wright also had five.
 
"Dyani continues to show why she is one of the best players in the country. She made timely buckets for us and was really good defensively down the stretch," concluded Burton.
 
Colorado Christian outscored the Lions, 17-15 in the second quarter, but trailed 40-37 at the half.
 
The Lions shot 19 for 36 from the field in the second half. Both teams scored 19 points in the third, but the Lions outscored the Cougars 24-18 in the fourth quarter.
 
A&M-Commerce took a 79-64 lead in the fourth quarter, starting the quarter on a 20-6 run. The Lions did not trail in the last 18 minutes and 50 seconds of the game. Jordyn Brown led the Cougars with 21 points off the bench.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions remain on the road to face Ouachita Baptist on Friday at 5:30 p.m. A&M-Commerce's first home games are during Thanksgiving weekend.