COMMERCE – Laila Lawrence recorded a double-double for the fourth consecutive game in the Field House, but the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team fell 66-55 on Saturday afternoon to Southland Conference-leading Southeastern Louisiana.
 
A&M-Commerce lost the season series to Southeastern and drops to 9-5 in conference play. A&M-Commerce sits in fourth place but is just 1.5 game out of second place with four games to play, including two against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, who is currently in second place. Southeastern is 12-3 overall and has a one-game lead in the standings.
 
SENIOR DAY
After Saturday's game, the Lions honored their lone graduating senior, Zaria Collins (Plano), with a special Senior Day ceremony.
 
Southeastern jumped to an 8-4 lead in the first 2 minutes and 10 seconds of the game. A&M-Commerce scored the next five to retake the lead. There were five lead changes in the first quarter with SLU leading by four twice in the quarter.
 
A&M-Commerce led 16-15 after the first quarter and scored six of the first seven points of the second quarter to lead by five on a layup by Jordyn Beaty (Woodville). The Lions led 24-19 with 6:05 to go in the first half. SLU went on a 15-2 run to close out the half and led 34-26 at halftime. A&M-Commerce was held scoreless for the final 2:27 of the half and did not lead again in the game.
 
The biggest lead in the game for Southeastern was 13 points and it came at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter. SLU's lead was not smaller than seven points at any point in the second half.
 
Lawrence (Lewisville) has had a double-double in each of the last four home games. On Saturday, she had 11 points and 14 rebounds. Collins was the team's leading scorer with 14 points, while Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) scored 13 and Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) recorded 11 points and four blocks off the bench. Lawrence also led the team with five assists.
 
A&M-Commerce shot 11 for 20 at the free throw line, outshot Southeastern, 43.5 percent to 40.7 percent, from the field, and had the 40-25 edge in rebounds. Southeastern's Hailey Giaratano scored 15 and Jen Pierre added 13. Southeastern forced 19 turnovers compared to just five for A&M-Commerce. 

POST GAME INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head on the road to play three games on a six-day road trip beginning at Nicholls on Monday at 5 p.m.