COMMERCE – For the eighth straight season, the East Texas A&M University women's basketball team won its season opener after defeating Oklahoma Christian by a score of 81-40 on Monday as part of Education Day, presented by Signature Solar, on the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House.
The Lions used a 17-0 run from late in the first quarter into the second, moving from a 12-7 score to 29-7. The Lions separated late in the first quarter, with
Rezia Castillo (Houston – Clear Brook) hitting a jumper at 1:16 and adding a 3-pointer off a
Blayke Brackens (Fairfield) assist with 11 seconds left. The defense held OC to 2-of-15 shooting with three blocks and four forced turnovers, and the Lions finished the quarter ahead 17-7.
The Lions controlled the second quarter defensively, holding the Eagles to 1-of-11 shooting and forcing seven turnovers.
Samantha Serrano (New York, N.Y.) scored the first six points of the quarter for the Lions, including a steal and fast-break layup, before a layup from
Torie Sevier (Aubrey – Braswell) pushed the stretch to eight straight points. The Lions outscored OC 22-7 in the quarter and went to halftime ahead 39-14.
The Lions closed the third quarter by holding the Eagles scoreless after the 5:37 mark and scoring the final 10 points to take a 60-23 lead into the fourth.
Jailynn Brill (Lincoln, Neb.) started the stretch with a jumper off a Castillo assist, Castillo added a 3-pointer, and
Terrayah McCoy (Princeton) hit another 3 with 13 seconds left.
The Lions used an 11-0 fourth-quarter run from 8:24 to 6:53 to push a 62-25 lead to 73-25.
Cora Horvath (Oberwart, Austria),
Nina Horvath (Oberwart, Austria) and
Brooklyn Terry (Mansfield Timberview) each made a 3-pointer during the stretch, and Serrano added two free throws. The Lions finished off an 81-40 win.
Castillo scored 15 points and added three assists and two steals. Serrano finished with 12 points, converted all six free throws and added three steals. Brackens recorded seven assists, three steals and no turnovers. Sevier posted four blocks and added four rebounds while making both field-goal attempts.
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The Lions visit Cincinnati on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. central.
-ETAMU-
