DENTON – DesiRay Kernal knocked down a layup with 30 seconds to go at Kitty Magee Arena to break a 60-60 dreadlock for the No. 3/5 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team on Monday night. Kernal scored the final three points of the game to give the Lions a 63-60 win over the Texas Woman's Pioneers.
 
The Lions did not trail from the 4:49 mark of the third quarter, but the Pioneers tied it at 60 on a three pointer by Sadie Moyer with 57 seconds to go. Following a timeout, Kernal (Newton, Kan.) made the layup and then blocked the Pioneers' chance to tie the game. She was fouled by TWU and made one of the free throws. TWU did not get a shot off in its last possession.
 
"Tonight was the definition of just find a way to win on the road and we did that," said coach Jason Burton. "TWU is a talented team all around, they were 6-2 for a reason. They guard well, they're physical, and they executed a really good game plan, but I love the way our team responded."
 
Monday night's game saw nine lead changes, but the Lions stayed in the front for 31 minutes and 47 seconds and won their ninth straight game to start the season. Texas Woman's falls to 6-3 on the season. Both teams square off in the Field House on January 2 as part of the Lone Star Conference schedule.
 
Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) led the Lions with 21 points and grabbed six rebounds. Kernal fell two rebounds short of a double-double, totaling 10 points, eight rebounds, a steal, and the block at the end of the game. Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) added eight points, three assists, and two steals off the bench. The A&M-Commerce bench outscored Texas Woman's, 23-4.
 
"Our bench was great today and played a huge third quarter for us after we came out of halftime flat," added Burton.
 
"We have a very resilient team and did a great job of handling TWU's runs and keeping our composure down the stretch. This was a big win for our team."
 
The Lions led by as much as seven points in the first quarter. Both teams shot below 40 percent in the first quarter. The Pioneers were held to a field goal percentage of .154 in the first half.
 
A jumper by Robinson gave the Lions a 19-11 lead in the second quarter. The Pioneers kept chopping at the deficit and took a 28-27 lead with 2:51 to go. A&M-Commerce scored four of the next six points to take a 31-30 lead at halftime.
 
Neither team was able to take a lead bigger than one possession for the first eight minutes of the third quarter. Lawrence made a layup to give the Lions a 47-43 lead. Robinson closed out the third quarter with a layup to give the Lions a 49-45 lead going into the fourth quarter.
 
Two free throws by Robinson gave the Lions their largest lead of the quarter at the 1:52 mark 60-55. Texas Woman's scored the next five points to tie the game. The Pioneers had four players reach 12 points and Agang Tac led the way with six rebounds.
 
Juliana Louis (Long Beach, Calif.) recorded five rebounds and four points. Chania Wright (DeSoto) handed out two assists. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) tallied six points and Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) scored five points.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions face off against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.