Feb. 25, 2006

Final Stats

The Lone Star Conference North Division came down to the final eight seconds of overtime Saturday. The A&M-Commerce women's basketball team came up short on two looks in the basket in that time as Southwestern Oklahoma State prevailed 71-70 and claimed the north division title outright.

The Lions (15-12, 7-5) led with 30 seconds to play in overtime with a Tradawn Short layup to give the Lions a 70-69 advantage. Julie Dawson was sent to the line for the Lady Bulldogs (16-11, 7-3) while in double bonus, hitting both to retake the lead for the game's final scores. The Lions were left with eight seconds in the overtime after calling a time out.

But two shots at the basket fell short for the Lions.

The Lions fought back from six down on two different occasions to make the game even at 60 at the end of regulation. They led 36-34 opening the second half, which the Lady Bulldogs clamped down in a stingier defensive effort. Southwestern allowed just five points in the first 11 minutes of the second period to take a 47-41 lead.

The Lions rallied on a series of stops to eventually take the lead at 52-49 with four minutes to play. The Bulldogs worked a 7-0 run in the next two minutes. A Rashida Wilson 3-pointer tied the game at 58-all. Dawson countered for the Lady Bulldogs with a score as 40 seconds remained in the second half. Dawn Montgomery found a score with 23 seconds remaining, leaving the final shot to Southwestern.

Dawson's number was called again, but Montgomery got a piece of the shot at the top of the key to prevent the go-ahead score.

The Lions outrebounded the nation's No. 9 rebounding team 40-35, just the third team all season to have the advantage on the boards against the Lady Bulldogs. A&M-Commerce was 6-of-27 from behind the arc to Southwestern's 5-of-16. The Lions shot 43 percent (29-of-68) to Southwestern's 48 (26-of-54).

Rashida Wilson and Katedria Mosley scored a game-high 19 points for the Lions. Kanani Marshal had 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Dawson went for 16 points in the win, while Kayla Horn added 16 points as well.

The Lions countered with a 9-2 run after falling behind two baskets the opening minutes to the Bulldogs. The Lions opened a four-point advantage with Katedria Mosley's eighth point in just the first eight minutes of play.

Kanani Marshal would put the Lions up two scores four minutes later with her second 3-pointer of the game. Horne provided the Lady Bulldogs with two baskets in a 7-0 run by the Lady Bulldogs.

Althea Byfield added with her first four points of the game, giving the Lions a 28-27 lead with three minutes to play in the first half. Southwestern regained the advantage with a three from Julie Dawson. Byfield saw that didn't last long as she scored down on the blocks and converted a free throw after a called shooting foul.

Just before the buzzer, Horne came back from Marshal's third 3-pointer of the game with a quick shot before the buzzer to end the first half with the Lions up 36-34.

The Lions will await on the outcome of the Northeastern vs. Southeastern game that started at 2 p.m. If Northeastern wins the Lions will finish third in the North and will travel to the #2 seed of the South Division. Should Northeastern lose, then the Lions will finish second in the North and will host the #3 seed of the South on Tuesday night in the Field House.

For all the latest updates stay tuned to the official site of Lion athletics, www.lionathletics.com