For the second game in a row, junior guard Gabby Scott set her season high for scoring, leading the Texas A&M University - Commerce Lions (9-6 overall; 3-2 in LSC) to a 70-62 victory against the Eastern New Mexico Zias (6-9 overall; 2-3 in LSC), their fifth win in the last six contests.
Scott's 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from deep beat her previous season-high of 17 points set in A&M-Commerce's previous game against McMurry. Scott chipped in a steal and a rebound in 25 minutes of play.
The Lions witnessed resurgence from two-time LSC Player of the Week La'Tisha Hearne, who recorded her fourth double-double of the year with a 10 point, 13 board performance. It was the first time Hearne had achieved the feat in over six weeks, her last coming in early December against Rogers State. The senior forward also chipped in two blocks, a steal and an assist.
"Tish really stepped up in the second half on both ends of the floor," said head coach Jason Burton, "Her work on the offensive glass was key in our win tonight."
Princess Davis rounded out the Lions' stable of double-digit scorers, as the freshman guard delivered a balanced outing with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Senior forward Abigail Leaupepe-Tele came off the bench to double up on her season high in steals, logging four takeaways in 16 minutes.
The game was hotly contested through the first half, with neither team taking a decisive lead. It wasn't until three minutes into the second half when the Lions began to break things open with their first double-digit lead of the game. At the 10:58 mark of the half, the Lions would grab a game-high twenty-point lead, and wouldn't look back. The Zias would threaten by bringing the game to within four with fewer than two minutes to go, but that's as close as they would come.
"As a team overall, multiple people stepped up and played key roles in the win tonight," said Burton, "The team has bought in to doing their part, our bench was active and positive the entire game…everyone has played a role in our success."
Despite the win, ENMU won the battle under the boards, out rebounding the Lions 44-37. They also outperformed A&M-Commerce in the three-point department, shooting 10-23 (43.5 percent) from long range to the Lions 4-15 (26.7 percent). The decisive advantage for coach Burton's squad came in the turnover battle, which the Lions won handily by only committing 11 to ENMU's 18 while recording nine steals to the Zias' six. Furthermore, the Lions found more success from the field, shooting 25 of 61 (41.0 percent) to Eastern New Mexico's 20 of 59 (33.9 percent)
The Zias got a quality showing out of junior guard Jordyn Cooper, who was unconscious from beyond the arc with 7 of 10 shooting from deep. She would ultimately finish with 23 points, as well as a rebound, a steal and an assist. Senior forward Tori Tucker put in a yeoman's effort with 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.
With the loss, the Zias fall to 6-9 on the year and 2-3 in LSC-play, which puts them at seventh overall in the conference. They'll have to shake this loss off quickly, as a trip to Texas Woman's (11-6 overall; 4-2 in LSC) awaits them tomorrow.
As for the Lions, their next game presents a stiff test, as they are slated to travel to Canyon, Texas to visit the No. 10 team in the country, West Texas A&M (13-2 overall; 4-1 in LSC). That game is scheduled for Saturday, January 24 at 2 p.m. in the First United Bank Center.