FRISCO, Texas — The Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions women’s basketball team took the court for their first round matchup in the Lone Star Conference tournament last night as the #5 seed and defeated the #4 seed Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in a thriller, 77-70 in the Comerica Center.
It was a rollercoaster of a game, but also one that had you on the edge of your seat. It came down to the final minute of the game to decide the fate of these two teams. After a Laura Rowe fast break basket inside for ENMU that cut the lead to within two, it was a clutch bucket hit with 29.3 seconds to go by Princess Davis that stretched the Lion lead back to four and ultimately sealed the win. Lions clinched it with clutch defense in the late seconds with ball pressure and caused Eastern to turn it over on their final two possessions, resulting in sending the Lions to the line where they hit five out of six late free throws.
“We knew we were going to hit adversity sometime in the game,” said head coach Jason Burton. “ It’s happened all year. It is all about withstanding and overcoming adversity. I thought we did a great job. Alexus Jones played huge. She knocked down some big shots. Then Princess was on a mission. For her to have a game like that and to be able to continue playing, it was big.”
With the win, the Lions clinch the 3rd 20-win season in program history, the second under head coach Jason Burton. Burton and the Lions also have now won at least one game in the LSC tournament in back to back seasons for the first time in program history and since the tournament began in the 2010-2011 season.
Davis led the way for the Lions with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. She got a basket from all but one Lion who played to help lift the Lions to victory and a pair of those scored in double digits. Alexus Jones made big contribution with her 14 points going 4-for-5 from three shooting 80 percent on the day and teammate Chania Wright added 13 points of her own. The Lions doubled the Greyhounds in points off of turnovers 22-11 and never relinquished the lead in the game, with the biggest lead getting as large as seventeen points.
“I came in with the mindset that it was all or nothing,” Davis said. “I tried to do whatever I could to give my team the lead and help my team out. My teammates had my back. It is only right I had theirs.”
Leaders for the Greyhounds begin with the LSC Newcomer of the Year/All-LSC First Team/All-Defensive team honoree, senior Treyanna Clay. Clay had a team-high 14 points along with 8 rebounds. Three more Greyhounds also score in double figures in the game. Sophomore guard Jena Mehlbrech adds 11 points and All-LSC Honorable Mention senior forward Shelby Jones posted 10 points along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. LSC All-Academic Team and All-LSC Honorable Mention sophomore forward Alivia Lewis posted the lone double double in the game with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
At the LSC Championship Banquet at Main Event in Frisco, a pair of Lions took home awards. Princess Davis brought home her third LSC All-Conference award when she was awarded second team All-LSC honors and Chania Wright was named third team All-LSC.
After her three assists in the game, Davis needs just 18 more to become the all-time assist leader in program history and is also just two minutes shy of becoming the all-time minutes leader in Lion history (men’s & women’s), a mark she will reach in the Lions 2nd round game of the tournament. Davis is also 4 steals away from moving to seventh place in program history and when she starts their 2nd round game she will be the lone leader in all-time games played.
Next Matchup: The Lions are set to take on the #1 seed West Texas A&M Lady Buffs in the semifinal round of the LSC tournament on Saturday at 6p.m. in the Comerica Center, the game can be heard on 88.9FM or www.ketr.org, the Lion Sports Network.
