Texas A&M University-Commerce (3-11, 2-3 LSC) saw a 14-point lead with 3:18 to play get cut all the way to 3, 76-73, and Cameron (8-5, 0-2 LSC) having the ball in position to tie the game with under 40 seconds to play. The Lion defense came up with the key stop they needed and Breanna Harris iced the game with a layup at the other end with four seconds to play.
The win ends a six game losing streak for the Lions at Aggie Gym and gets them back-to-back wins over Cameron –dating back to last season- for the first time since winning eight straight from 2005-09.
La'Tisha Hearne led the way for the Lions with 18 points on 7-12 shooting. Hearne also added 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Symone Brown and Harris had 17 on the night. Brown's 17 is a new career high for the sophomore. Brown was 7-13 from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line.
Devin Oliver was the other Lion in double figures with 14 points but was just 6-21 from the field. Alize Pegue had three points, seven rebounds and six assists. The rebound and assist totals are career highs for the freshman.
Both teams started slow in the opening minutes as the two sides combined to shoot 2-10 in the opening 2:25 and 4-13 by the time the under 16 media timeout arrived. The Lions used an eight nothing run to take a 12-7 lead after a jumper from Oliver.
A Danielle Dixon jumper got the Lions lead to 10 points, 21-11. The Aggies responded with a six nothing run to force a Lion timeout from Nicole Anderson. The Lions maintained the lead throughout the duration of the half and took a 35-30 advantage heading into the break.
The second half started faster than the first as both teams started to find their groves offensively. Cameron cut the lead to 39-36 after four Lion turnovers once the Aggies started to extend their defense.
Cameron chipped away at the deficit and eventually took a 49-48 lead, their first since it was 7-6 early in the first half. The Lions responded quickly though as a Harris layup gave the Lions the lead back on their next possession.
Alize Pegue made three the hard way to get the Lion lead back to four, 53-49. The Lions would continue to put distance between themselves and the Aggies. The lead got to as many as 14, 72-58 with just over three minutes to play.
The Aggies started pressing and the Lions had no answer for it at first with turnovers leading to open threes from Chelsea Stamp to get Cameron back into it. Christian Caddy was also instrumental in the run by being the front man on the press and forcing the turnovers.
The Lions hung on for the win with one stop after a quick shot that gave the Aggies a chance to tie the game with just over 30 seconds to play. Ashlee Johnson intercepted a save attempt by the Aggies and found Harris along for the game clinching layup.
The Lions made a season high 18 free throws and shot 64.3% from the line. A&M-Commerce also held the advantage inside, 28-26, and second chance points, 20-6.
A&M-Commerce now has a week off before traveling to Eastern New Mexico next Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off as part of men's and women's double header. The Lions swept the season series with the Zias a season ago and are 3-2 in their last five trips to Portales, New Mexico.