COMMERCE – DesiRay Kernal matched her career high of 26 points in the No. 2/7 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team's 76-53 win over the St. Edward's Hilltoppers on Thursday night in the Field House.
 
Kernal (Newton, Kan.) shot 9 for 12 from the field and 8 for 11 at the free throw line for 26 points. She also scored 26 points against Midwestern State on January 10, 2021. She tallied seven rebounds and two steals on Thursday night. The Lions have won eight games in a row, posting a record of 21-2 on the season and 9-2 in Lone Star Conference play, they are in sole possession of second place in the standings and a half game back of West Texas A&M. The Hilltoppers fall to 11-15 overall and 4-11 in LSC games.
 
The Lions made their first two shots of the game to grab a quick 5-0 lead. The Hilltoppers shot 1 for 5 to start the game and trailed 11-2 through the first four minutes of the game. Morgan Gary was responsible for 10 of St. Edward's first 12 points, who cut it to 15-12 at the 1:54 mark of the first quarter. The Hilltoppers had six offensive rebounds and six second chance points in the first quarter.
 
Asiyha Smith (Conway, Ark.) beat the first quarter buzzer with a fadeaway layup to give the Lions a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Hilltoppers tied the game with four quick points in the second at the 7:44 mark, which was the first tie since the opening-tip.
 
There was a total of five ties in the second quarter, with the Lions not being able to build a lead bigger than two, through the first 8:42 of the quarter, outside of the four-point Lion lead to start the quarter. Symmone James (McKinney – Boyd) knocked in a layup with 1:18 left to give the Lions a 31-27 lead. St. Edward's did not have a lead in the first half.
 
The Lions scored the final eight points of the half to grab a 33-27 lead at the break. Kernal scored the final four points, and she led the team with 12 in the first half on 5 for 6 shooting from the field. Smith had team-leading four rebounds, Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) had three assists, and James had two blocks.
 
The Hilltoppers outshot the Lions, 38.2 percent to 36.4 percent, in the first half. The Lions had the 10 for 13 to 0 for 2 advantage at the line.
 
St. Edward's went on a scoring drought of over four minutes after cutting it to three points to start the second half. The Lions were able to build a 13-point lead in that stretch, by going on a 12-0 run, with five points coming from Chania Wright (DeSoto).
 
Kernal's season high in scoring was 19 points coming into the night and she scored her 21^st point of the game with 3:34 left in the third. Ronnie Cantu ended the Lion scoring run with a layup at the 2:24 mark of the third, not before the Lions had built a 22-point lead. The Lions scored 19 straight and 23 of 25.
 
James had eight points in the quarter. The Hilltoppers had eight turnovers and the Lions had 14 points off turnovers in the quarter.
 
Smith beat the third quarter buzzer as well with a layup to give the Lions a 62-41 lead. The Lions shot 11 for 23 from the field in the third quarter.
 
The Lions shot 21.4 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, but shot 8 for 12 at the Line to still outscore the Hilltoppers, 14-12 in the quarter. James knocked down two free throws to tie the Lions' largest lead of 23 points to end the game. She finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
 
Juliana Louis (Long Beach, Calif.) had four points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Robinson totaled 14 points, five rebounds, team-best six assists, and two steals. All seven points from Wright came in the second half, she also had two assists. Smith tallied eight points, five rebounds, and an assist.
 
The Lions had just 17 points off the bench, 15 came from James and the other basket came from Laila Lawrence (Lewisville), who also had five rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) had five rebounds, while Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) and Ashley Shipley (Tucumcari, N.M.) had three each.
 
Gary led the Hilltoppers with 15 points and Bella Muscoreil had 12 off the bench.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce hosts Senior Day against St. Mary's on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Lion seniors Wright and Louis will be honored in a special ceremony right after the game.