COMMERCE – A 7-0 run to start Saturday afternoon's game powered the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team to a 73-65 win over the Houston Christian Huskies in the Field House and snap a two-game losing streak.
 
The Lions collect their seventh conference win of the season and now sit in sole possession of second place with a Southland record of 7-2, they are 9-12 overall, and took both games in the regular season over HCU, who is 3-6 in Southland play and 8-12 overall. HCU was the 2021-22 Southland Conference champion.
 
Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) hit a three-pointer, and both Laila Lawrence (Lewisville) and Zaria Collins (Plano) made layups for a 7-0 start through the first 2:22 of the game. The Lions' largest lead of the game was 13 points, and it came in the first quarter, 17-4.
 
Houston Christian trimmed the lead down to three in the second quarter and outscored A&M-Commerce, 22-18, in the period. Three points was the slimmest lead for the Lions all game and after HCU cut it to 66-63 with 3:54 left in the game, the Lions scored the next five to go back up by eight.
 
Collins shot 6 for 8 from the field and made all four free throws for 16 points, her best scoring performance of the season. Lawrence totaled 13 points on 6 for 10 shooting and tallied team-best eight rebounds as well. Deck and Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) led the way with three assists each and Deck also recorded three steals and scored 10 points.
 
A&M-Commerce's bench outscored the Lions, 22-7, thanks in large part to season-high 13 points from Jasmine Payne (Montgomery, Ala.). She shot 5 for 6 from the field, including 2 for 2 at the distance.
 
The Lions outshot the Huskies, 51.9 percent to 38.2 percent and had a 40-14 edge in points in the paint. Houston Christian's N'Denasija Collins scored 22. Abbey Sutherland had 13 points and 11 rebounds for a double double.


POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions make a quick trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana, to face Nicholls on Thursday at 5 p.m., before returning to Commerce to face McNeese next Saturday.