COMMERCE – Despite leading by as much as 12 points in the second half, the East Texas A&M University women's basketball team suffered a 73-71 defeat at the hands of the UT Arlington Mavericks on Monday night on Hunt Regional Healthcare in the Field House.
 
The Lions had their biggest lead of the night of 12 points with 7:53 left in the third quarter, but the Mavericks cut it to within three towards the end of the quarter, and took a 66-65 lead at the 5:32 mark of the fourth quarter, which was UTA's first lead since the first quarter.
 
At the 4:57 mark of the fourth quarter, the Lions got the lead back, 67-66, on a layup by Jasmine Payne (Birmingham, Ala.), but did not make a field goal the rest of the game and went 4 for 7 at the line down the stretch. UTA missed four free throw attempts in the final seconds of the game, but the Lions were not able to come up with the defensive rebound.
 
The loss drops East Texas A&M to 2-3 on the season and it was the first loss at home for the Lions, while the Mavericks improve to 2-3 on the season as well and won their first game on the road.
 
The lead was changed three times in the first quarter, but the Lions ended the period leading 16-13, and extended it to 40-28 on a layup by Jordyn Newsome (Irving – MacArthur) in the third quarter.
 
There was a total of 48 fouls called in the game. UTA went 28 for 43 at the line, while the Lions went 18 for 25. Four Lions and two Mavericks fouled out in the game.
 
The Lions were led in scoring by Newsome, who had 18 points along with two rebounds and two assists, while Hannah Humphrey (Lamar Consolidated) scored 15 off the bench and Nina Horvath (Oberwart, Austria) added 11 off the bench. Alva Hedrich (Muecke, Germany) led the team with 10 rebounds.
 
Koi Love scored 24 to lead the Mavericks of 8 for 12 shooting from the field, including making the lone three-pointer for the team. UTA was 1 for 11 from the distance. Avery Brittingham went 10 for 16 at the line on the way to scoring 18 points.

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The Lions spend the rest of non-conference play on the road, beginning with a trip to Texas Southern on Thursday at 4 p.m.