HAMMOND, La. – The six-game winning streak for the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team ended on Saturday afternoon at the hands of Southeastern Louisiana by a score of 46-42 inside the University Center.
 
A&M-Commerce was the lone undefeated team in the Southland Conference coming into the game and drops to 6-1 in conference play and 8-11 overall, while Southeastern is now 10-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Both Lion teams meet again in Commerce on February 18.  
 
There were three lead changes in the first half, with both teams leading by five at least once in the half. A&M-Commerce's five-point lead came early in the first quarter, 7-2, while Southeastern had a five-point lead twice in the first half.
 
DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) scored nine for the Lions in the first half on 3 for 4 shooting and grabbed five rebounds as well. Southeastern's Alexius Horne scored 10.
 
The start of the second half was delayed by about 20 minutes due to shot clock malfunction in the University Center.
 
Southeastern increased its lead to six to start the third quarter, but the Lions went on a 7-0 run to take a 33-32 lead on a three pointer by Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) at the 3:40 mark of the third. Southeastern's scoring drought was five minutes and 10 seconds, missing six field goal attempts in that stretch.
 
After the scoring drought, SLU scored four in a row to go up by three and ended the third quarter leading 38-35, scoring six of the final eight points of the quarter.  
 
Both teams were without a point scored through the first 4:20 of the fourth quarter until a three pointer by Kernal tied the game at 38. Southeastern took back a 40-38 lead, but Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) scored four straight to put A&M-Commerce ahead 42-40.
 
Southeastern took a three-point edge by going on a 5-0 run to end the game. A&M-Commerce did not score a point in the final 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
 
Kernal scored 18 for the Lions, best for either team, and missed a double-double by just two rebounds. She also recorded two assists and two steals. Lawrence added six points and seven rebounds, while both Zaria Collins (Plano) and Norris scored five.
 
A&M-Commerce shot 16 for 52 in the game for a clip of 30.8 percent from the field and 7 for 14 at the free throw line. This is the first time that the Lions scored below 50 points in a game since March 8, 2020.
 
Cierria Cunningham led the way for Southeastern with 14 points and Natalie Kelly had 11 rebounds.


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The road swing continues Thursday in Beaumont against Lamar at 5 p.m.