COMMERCE – Behind 22 points from Laila Lawrence, the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team cruised to a 67-47 win over the Northwestern State Lady Demons on Thursday evening in the Field House. This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this week.
 
The Lions improve to 8-3 in conference play this season, sitting just a half game out of first place, while the Lady Demons fall to 9-13 overall and 5-7 in Southland Conference play.
 
Both teams exchanged the lead in the first quarter, until a 6-0 run by the Lions gave them the largest lead of the quarter up to that point and they ended the quarter on a 11-2 run to lead 20-12 after the first quarter.
 
There were six lead changes in the first six minutes of the game and then not another one for the rest of the game. The Lions led by as much as 17 in the first half, leading for 17 minutes and trailing for just one minute and 10 seconds.
 
Lawrence (Lewisville) hit an and-one late in the second quarter and finished the half with 10 points, with four coming at the line. She also grabbed eight rebounds in the half, nearing her fourth double-double of the season.
 
Northwestern State's Sharna Ayres hit four three pointers in the third quarter, scoring 12 of the team's 16 points in the quarter to cut into the Lion lead. Both teams scored 16 points in the quarter and the Lions did not allow the lead to go below single digits at any point in the second half.
 
Lawrence finished the game with 22 points and career-best 18 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. She also blocked four shots, which are a new career high as well. Her magnificent night including three steals and three assists, both led the team as well.
 
DesiRay Kernal (Newton, Kan.) and Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) scored 11 points each. Deck grabbed eight rebounds and Kernal grabbed four. The Lions also received eight points from Zaria Collins (Plano), while Dorian Norris (Lake Dallas) and Jordyn Beaty (Woodville) added six each. Beaty also had seven rebounds.
 
After 12 points in the third quarter, Ayres was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Jasmin Dixon had 11 rebounds off the bench. The Lions outscored the Lady Demons, 40-18 in the paintt and 20-5 in second chance opportunities.


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The Lions and the Lady Demons face each other again on Saturday in Natchitoches, Louisiana, at 1 p.m.