SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Despite fighting back from being down 18 to pull to within four, the Texas A&M University-Commerce was defeated by the Boise State Broncos via a score of 75-66 on Tuesday afternoon at the South Padre Island Convention Centre in the final game of the UTRGV South Padre Island Classic.
 
The game was tied at seven, but the Broncos scored the next 11 points, and the deficit was not within one possession for the rest of the game. Three three-pointers in a row by the Lions, one each from Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek), Asiyha Smith (Conway, Ark.), and Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) brought the score down to 67-63. But, following a Boise State timeout, the Broncos scored the next five points and the closest the Lions got from that point was six points on two free throws by Laila Lawrence (Lewisville).
 
Boise held the Lions to shoot 33 percent from the field, 33 percent from beyond-the-arc, and 69 percent at the free throw line. The Lions forced 21 turnovers in the game and scored 21 points off those turnovers and had the 11-4 edge in fast break points as well. The Broncos had the 38-22 advantage for points in the paint.
 
Dani Bayes scored 14 for the Broncos, who received 18 points off the bench from Natalie Pasco. Boise State shot 45.9 percent from the field and made eight of its 15 three-point attempts.
 
Smith went 8 for 10 at the free-throw line for her 18 points, while Deck had 13 on 5 for 11 shooting, Robinson scored 12, and DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) scored 10 of 4 for 5 shooting.
 
Lawrence nearly missed her second double-double of the season, she totaled eight points and nine rebounds. Kernal grabbed five boards, while Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) and Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) had four each. Russell led the team with three assists as well.
 

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The Lions are off for Christmas and are back in action in Austin against Texas on December 28 at 7 p.m. The Longhorns are receiving votes in both national polls and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament last season.