CANYON – Being held to shoot below 20 percent in the fourth quarter, the No. 2 Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the loss of the season, 82-72, to the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs on Thursday evening at the First United Bank Center.  
 
The Lions fall to 11-1 on the season, dropping their Lone Star Conference opener, playing their first game since December 20, 2021 due to the holiday break and COVID-19 protocols. The Lady Buffs, who had 23 second chance points on 26 offensive rebounds, sit atop the LSC with a 3-0 record and are 10-7 overall.
 
A&M-Commerce fell behind 13-5 early in the first quarter. Lion coach Jason Burton brought in a new lineup, replacing all but one starter. The Lions scored the next 12 points to take a 17-13 lead. The Lady Buffs missed four field goals during the stretch and were held to shoot below 30 percent throughout the first half.
 
The Lady Buffs served right back with an 8-0 run and took a 21-17 lead at the first quarter break. Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) scored the first five points of the second quarter to regain the lead. Robinson tallied 13 points in the second quarter on 6 for 8 shooting, she had 16 points in the first half, but held to just six in the second half.  
 
Asiyha Smith (Conway, Ark.) gave the Lions a 37-29 lead with a three pointer at the 3:17 mark of the second quarter. Down its biggest deficit of the game, the Lady Buffs restricted the Lions to just three more points in the half and cut it to 40-39 at the half. A&M-Commerce shot 48.5 percent from the field. Smith and Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) totaled eight points in the first half.
 
Scoring the final five points of the first half, the Lady Buffs retook a 41-40 lead by scoring the first points of the third quarter. West Texas A&M missed nine of its 10 field goals to end the third quarter. On the other end, the Lions went on an 8-3 run to lead 58-57 going into the fourth quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Buffs knocked down two three pointers in a row, while blocking a Lion shot on the other end to grab a 66-62 lead. The Lions were restricted to shoot 1 for 7 during the stretch and were held scoreless for over four minutes in the fourth quarter.
 
For a span of six minutes and 29 seconds in the fourth quarter, the Lions were held with a made field goal, but trailed by just four with two minutes to go. A&M-Commerce shot 3 for 18 in the fourth quarter, compared to the Lady Buffs, who shot 7 for 16. In the game, the Lions shot 19 for 30 from the line.
 
A&M-Commerce suffers its first setback since falling to Southwestern Oklahoma State in the NCAA South Central Regional Semifinal last spring, which also came in the First United Bank Center.
 
DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) had a double-double for the second straight game, she totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds, but fouled out with over two minutes left in the game. Lawrence also scored in double digits, with 10 points and grabbing five rebounds.
 
Off the bench, Smith had 15 points, making eight of her 10 free throws. She also recorded three rebounds and an assist. Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) totaled six points and two rebounds. Jordyn Beaty (Woodville) made her first appearance of the year, playing four minutes in the first half.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW 

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A&M-Commerce's next scheduled game against Cameron on Saturday has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. The Lions return home to face No. 6 Lubbock Christian next Thursday, January 13 at 5:30 p.m. Arrive early to receive free pizza as well as free t-shirts, until supplies last.