COMMERCE – Outscoring the Idaho Vandals by 18 in the second half, the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team collected its first win over a Division I opponent this season and snapped its six-game losing streak with the 88-72 win on Wednesday night in the Field House.
 
Prior to the game, both teams held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tragedy on the campus of University of Idaho last month.
 

"Although thousands of miles may separate us, we want you to know that the University of Idaho continues to be in the thoughts and prayers of A&M-Commerce faculty, staff, students and alumni. We stand with you – you are indeed Vandal Strong."

– Dr. Mark Rudin, #TAMUC President pic.twitter.com/UeWhDOKJzy

— Texas A&M University-Commerce (@tamuc) December 8, 2022

The Lions were down by as much as 10 points in the first half but pulled to within two at halftime and held a 16-point lead to close out the game. A&M-Commerce is now 2-6 on the season, while Idaho is 2-5.
 
The Vandals shot 9 for 18 in the first quarter to lead 22-19. The Lions had an 8-2 lead to start the game. Beyonce Bea came into the game eighth in the country in scoring, she tallied 12 points in the first quarter. Idaho had the biggest lead for either team in the quarter and it was five points. 
 
A&M-Commerce fell behind by 10 in the second quarter, but the Lions held Idaho without a basket for the final two minutes of the half and made it a 39-37 game at the half in favor of Idaho.
 
DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) had eight points, while Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) scored seven in the first half. After scoring 12 points in the first quarter, Bea was held to just two in the second half, she finished the game with 27 points and 10 rebounds. The Vandals shot 36.8 percent in the second quarter.
 
The Lions scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to take their first lead of the game since the first quarter. Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) drilled a three-pointer to give the Lions a 54-44 lead with 4:50 left in the third quarter, their biggest in the game up to that point. A&M-Commerce shot over 60 percent to start the third quarter.
 
Idaho made eight of nine to pull to 60-58, but an and-one by Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) gave the Lions a five-point lead once again. Two free throws by Bea right before the buzzer pulled Idaho to 65-60 at the end of three quarters.
 
Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) had 18 points in the second half, after just five in the first half. The Lions led for the almost the entire third quarter and 25:13 in the game. A&M-Commerce outscored Idaho 23-12 in the fourth quarter. Robinson hit a layup with 22 seconds left for the Lions' highest lead of the night.
 
Robinson finished the game with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal. This was her fourth 20-point performance of the season. Kernal racked up a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
 
Four of the five starters for the Lions reached double digits. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal. James had 11 points, five rebounds, and one assists. Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) came off the bench and scored 11 points and six rebounds.
 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
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The Lions are next headed to Mississippi State to face a power-five conference opponent for the first time in the regular season. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. on Sunday evening and the game will be on national television on the SEC Network.