FRISCO - The third-seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team saw a last-second buzzer beater attempt rim out in a 67-66 loss to top-seeded West Texas A&M in the final of the Lone Star Conference Tournament at Comerica Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (26-4) will learn their postseason destination at 9 p.m. on Sunday night, with the Division II Tournament Selection Show streamed live on NCAA.com. The community is invited to watch the show with the team at the Rayburn Student Center. West Texas A&M moves to 23-10 and claims its 16th LSC Tournament title.

In an exciting game with 12 ties and 11 lead changes, neither team led by more than two possessions for more than 30 seconds, and the contest came down to a final shot. The Lions trailed by one point with 4.8 seconds to go, and Asiyha Smith (Conway, Ark.) heaved a three-pointer that rimmed out at the buzzer.


POSTGAME INTERVIEW

Dyani Robinson (Cy Creek) scored 19 points to lead three Lions in double digit scoring. Juliana Louis (Long Beach, Calif.) had her second double-double of the tournament with 12 points and 15 rebounds. DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) scored 15 points, including a layup inside the final 15 seconds that gave the Lions a lead.

Robinson and Louis earned All-Tournament honors for their performances in the three games in Frisco. The Lions were making their third consecutive appearance the the LSC Tournament championship game. 

The Lions shot 33.3 percent (25-of-75) from the field and held a narrow 46-45 rebounding margin. Both teams made 13 free throws and the one-point margin came down to long distance shooting, where the Lions made three three-pointers to the Lady Buffs' four.

The Lady Buffs missed their first nine shots, which allowed the Lions to build a 6-0 lead. The Lady Buffs responded by holding the Lions to shoot one for their next 10, while scoring eight straight points. 

The string of runs continued in the first as the Lions scored the next six and went back up by four. A&M-Commerce led 12-10 after the first quarter. Scoring the last two points of the first and first two of the second quarter, West Texas A&M tied it at 12 once again. 

The biggest lead for either team in the second quarter was five points and it came with 48 seconds left in the quarter on two free throws by Robinson. After a layup from the Lady Buffs, Kernal knocked down a jumper from point-blank range right before the buzzer to give the Lions a 32-27 lead at halftime. 

Coming out of the locker room in the second half, both teams shot below 35 percent in the third quarter. The Lions did manage to lead throughout the quarter and entered the fourth quarter leading 46-43. 

The Lady Buffs put together a 10-0 run in less than two minutes to rally back from being down seven to take a 57-54 lead. They shot 5 for 7 to start the fourth, making both three point attempts. Two free throws from Lauren Taylor with four seconds left gave the Lady Buffs a 67-66 lead. The Lions had a chance to win it on the other end, but the three pointer from Smith went off the rim. 

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