COMMERCE – Trailing by four points in the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the No. 3/5 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team went on a 19-0 run to separate itself from Oklahoma Christian and win 92-66 at the Field House.
 
The win moves the Lions to 8-0 on the season, having scored 90 points or more in three games. The Eagles remain winless on the season, dropping to 0-7. Both teams will meet again in Oklahoma City on February 5 during Lone Star Conference play.
 
A&M-Commerce started the game leading 9-0. Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) made her first collegiate start and scored four points of the nine points. James made four of her seven field goal attempts and knocked down all six free throws for 14 points. She also had seven rebounds and three steals.
 
A layup by James gave the Lions a 14-9 lead with 1:37 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run to close out the quarter and took a 15-14 lead, their first of the game. They scored the first points of the second quarter and took their largest lead of the game of four points with 8:48 to go in the second. Brooklin Bain had 22 points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma Christian, both were most by any player on either team on Saturday.
 
The Lions quickly eradicated the deficit and took a 15-point lead by going on a 19-0 run and did not trail the rest of the way. Laila Lawrence (Clarksville) had seven of her nine points during the run. She also recorded four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. A&M-Commerce outscored Oklahoma Christian 28-13 in the second quarter to take a 42-28 lead at halftime. The Lions made 11 of their 20 field goals in the quarter.
 
The smallest lead in the third quarter for the Lions was 12 points and they took a 21-point lead on two free throws by Ravae Payne (Pearland). Payne knocked down three of her five three-point attempts, totaling 15 points. The senior guard also tallied five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. A&M-Commerce's largest lead of the game came with 1:42 to go on a layup by Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.)
 
Dyani Robinson went 6 for 6 at the line, scoring 12 points total and also dishing out three assists, grabbing three rebounds, as well as having two steals and a block. Juliana Louis (Long Beach, Calif.) grabbed team-best eight rebounds, also led the team with five assists, and had a block. Chania Wright (DeSoto) scored eight points.
 
Coming off the bench for the first time all season, DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) scored 12 points as well as four rebounds. Asiyha Smith (Newton, Kan.) led the team with 17 points on 6 for 8 shooting from the field. She also recorded two rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists. Makenzie Schott (Flower Mound Marcus) had a three pointer down the stretch. The Lion bench outscored the Eagles 43-9.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
After four straight games in the Field House, the Lions head back on the road for their next two games. A&M-Commerce is at Texas Woman's on Monday at 6 p.m. and at Midwestern State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.