COMMERCE – Despite 20 points from Mia Deck, the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team fell 70-62 on Thursday night in the Field House to the UIW Cardinals.
 
Thursday's win was the first Southland Conference win for the Cardinals, who are now 8-6 overall and 1-2 in SLC play, while the Lions drop to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The 1-2 start to the conference schedule is the worst start for the Lions since 2013-14.
 
The Lions and the Cardinals had leads of four and five, respectively, in the first quarter as UIW went on a 6-2 run to close out the first quarter and cut the Lion lead to 21-20.
 
After a combined 41 points in the first quarter, the Lions scored just six points in the first six minutes of the second quarter, while UIW was scoreless. Ahmya Boyce (Newport News, Va.) knocked down three-straight free throws to put the Lions up 29-23 at the 3:15 mark, which was the largest lead of the game for A&M-Commerce.
 
The Cardinals went on a 6-0 run to take a 32-31 lead with 56 seconds left in the half, but two free throws from Deck (Frisco – Lone Star), put the Lions up 33-32 at the half.
 
To start the second half, the Cardinals went on a 10-2 run to lead 42-35 at the 7:40 mark of the third quarter, including scoring the first seven points of the quarter. UIW outscored A&M-Commerce, 28-17, in the third quarter as the Cardinals led by as much as 14.
 
Aaliyah Collins shot 4 for 5 from the field and 1 for 1 from deep for nine points in the third quarter. The Lions shot 7 for 17 in the third quarter, while UIW shot 11 for 13.
 
UIW shot just 2 for 13 in the fourth quarter. Boyce hit a three-pointer with 41 seconds left in the game to cut the UIW lead to 65-62, but UIW was 5 for 6 at the line down the stretch and the Lions did not score another point to lose their seventh game of the season.
 
Deck shot 8 for 16 from the field for her 20 points. She has scored 20 or more points in all three conference games. Boyce added 15 points and two blocks, while Jasmine Payne (Birmingham, Ala.) added eight points off the bench.
 
Both Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) and Mary Delgado (Miami, Fla.) totaled nine rebounds and three assists each. Delgado had two steals as well.
 
After shooting 50 percent in the first quarter, the Lions shot 39.1 percent in the game and 4 for 18 from deep. UIW shot 44.6 percent from the field and outrebounded A&M-Commerce, 38-33.
 
Collins totaled 21 points, with 19 in the second half. Destiny Terrell had 14 points and eight rebounds and Nina De Leon Negron scored 12 points along with nine rebounds.


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The Lions close out the three-game homestand at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday against Houston Christian.