COMMERCE – DesiRay Kernal scored her 1,000^th career point on Thursday evening in the Field House as the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team cruised to an 81-48 win over the Nicholls Colonels and remain undefeated in Southland Conference play.
 
Kernal (Newton, Kan.) needed four points coming into the game to become the 16^th player in program history to reach the 1,000-career points threshold and she scored her fourth point of the night at the 5:20 mark of the first quarter.
 
The Lions have won four of their five games at home this season and are one of three teams in the Southland that is 2-0 in conference play. A&M-Commerce is now 4-10 overall, while Nicholls falls to 3-10 overall and 0-2 in Southland play. The two teams meet again in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on February 2.
 
There were six lead changes in the game and all six came in the first quarter. Nicholls led by as much as five through the first 10 minutes of the game, but the Lions closed out the first quarter on an and-one by Laila Lawrence (Lewisville), which gave A&M-Commerce a two-point lead to end the quarter and it did not trail again in the game.
 
The Lions' largest lead in the first half was 18 points and it came with 1:06 left in the half, while their largest lead in the game was 35 points, which they reached at the 3:25 mark of the fourth quarter. The 33-point margin of victory is the largest for the Lions against a Division I opponent this season and largest against a team that is in the same classification as them since the 46-point win at Midwestern State last season.
 
Lawrence recorded her second double-double of the season, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists on Thursday night. She totaled 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and a block.
 
Both Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) and Dyani Robinson (Langham Creek) scored 11 points each. Deck recorded five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, while Robinson recorded 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
 
Kernal added nine points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) scored 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block. Off the bench, Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) scored seven, while Zaria Collins (Plano) scored six and grabbed five rebounds. Jordyn Beaty (Woodville) scored five and Nya Harmon (Dallas – Bowie) had four points and forced four steals as well.
 
For the Colonels, Lexi Alexander recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. No other player scored in double-digits.


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The Lions head on the road to face McNeese on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Cowgirls serve as the hosts of the Southland Conference Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana, later this season.