COMMERCE – A 19-2 run to start Saturday afternoon's game in the Field House was more than enough to give the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team an 87-78 win over McNeese.
 
The Lions snapped a three-game losing skid and move to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in Southland Conference play. Saturday was the first conference win under coach Valerie King. McNeese falls to 4-11 overall and 0-2 in SLC action.
 
McNeese scored the first point of the game on a free throw, but the Lions scored the next 13. The Cowgirls added another free throw, with a 6-0 run by the Lions following to give A&M-Commerce a 19-2 lead at the 6:27 mark of the first quarter.
 
An and-one and a three-pointer by the Cowgirls to start the second quarter trimmed the lead down to single digits for the first time since the opening stretch of the game. The Cowgirls ended the first half on an 8-3 run to trail 42-36 at the break.
 
After shooting 52 percent to start the game in the first quarter, the Lions shot 29 percent in the second half. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) scored 10 in the first half and Mary Delgado (Miami, Fla.) added 11. Off the bench, Emilia Tenbrock scored 17 for the Cowgirls in the first half.
 
The Lions scored the first two points of the second half, but McNeese scored the next six to come to within two. The Lions ended the third quarter on a 4-0 run, to lead 69-54 after three quarters.
 
The deficit did not dip below 10 points in the fourth quarter until the 1:42 mark. The Lions had a lead as big as 18 in the period. The Lions shot 59 percent in the third quarter and 45 percent in the game.
 
McNeese shot 37 percent from the field. The Lions shot 9 for 22 from deep and 14 for 21 at the line, while the Cowgirls shot 19 for 29 at the line and 7 for 25 from deep.
 
Deck scored 23 points and 10 rebounds for the second straight game. She now has four double-doubles this season. Olivia Russell (Auburn Hills, Mich.) tallied 14 rebounds and six points, while Delgado scored 19 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
 
Ahmya Boyce (Newport News, Va.) added six assists as well, while scoring 12 points. Jordyn Newsome (Irving – MacArthur) recorded 18 points and two rebounds.
 
Tenbrock finished the game with 40 points, she is the first 40-point scorer against the Lions since at least 2010. Azjah Reeves scored 14 points.

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The Lions open their first conference homestand, welcoming UIW at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Houston Christian next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.